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Romanian judges bar populist MEP | Romanian judges bar populist MEP |
(1 day later) | |
One of Romania's most flamboyant politicians has been barred from taking his seat in the European Parliament because he is facing a police inquiry. | |
Gigi Becali, a former shepherd who made a fortune in land deals, is accused of attacking thieves who stole his car. | Gigi Becali, a former shepherd who made a fortune in land deals, is accused of attacking thieves who stole his car. |
Judges upheld a travel ban imposed on him while the case is investigated. | Judges upheld a travel ban imposed on him while the case is investigated. |
He says he intends to travel to Brussels to begin his five-year term anyway, and has challenged the Romanian authorities to arrest him there. | He says he intends to travel to Brussels to begin his five-year term anyway, and has challenged the Romanian authorities to arrest him there. |
Public sympathy | Public sympathy |
Mr Becali - a devout Christian who owns Romania's biggest football club Steaua Bucharest - got into trouble with the police earlier this year when a group thieves stole his car and demanded a ransom for its return. | Mr Becali - a devout Christian who owns Romania's biggest football club Steaua Bucharest - got into trouble with the police earlier this year when a group thieves stole his car and demanded a ransom for its return. |
He initially paid the ransom, but the thieves claim they were then trapped, roughed up and dumped outside Bucharest by Mr Becali's men. | He initially paid the ransom, but the thieves claim they were then trapped, roughed up and dumped outside Bucharest by Mr Becali's men. |
The thieves took their complaint to the police, and Mr Becali was arrested. | The thieves took their complaint to the police, and Mr Becali was arrested. |
He announced his candidacy for the European Parliament from his prison cell - though he has since been freed. | He announced his candidacy for the European Parliament from his prison cell - though he has since been freed. |
Mr Becali - who is sometimes described as a Robin Hood figure in Romania - said he would travel to Brussels regardless of the judge's ruling. | Mr Becali - who is sometimes described as a Robin Hood figure in Romania - said he would travel to Brussels regardless of the judge's ruling. |
The BBC's Eastern and Central Europe correspondent, Nick Thorpe, says many Romanians see him as a victim of crime rather than a perpetrator. | The BBC's Eastern and Central Europe correspondent, Nick Thorpe, says many Romanians see him as a victim of crime rather than a perpetrator. |
Sympathy about the case undoubtedly helped him to win a seat in Brussels for the nationalist Greater Romania Party, our correspondent says. | Sympathy about the case undoubtedly helped him to win a seat in Brussels for the nationalist Greater Romania Party, our correspondent says. |
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