Romanian Football Corruption Suspects Marcel Lica, Aurelian Bogaciu Remain Under Arrest

The Pitesti Court of Appeal allowed the appeal formulated by the Pitesti Anticorruption Department against the decision issued by the Arges Court to release Marcel Lica under judicial control.

In addition, Pitesti Court of Appeal judges rejected the appeal formulated by Aurelian Bogaciu’s lawyers against his preventive arrest.

According to Florin Doran, Bogaciu’s lawyer, the next step is to formulate a request for temporary release under judicial control.

Marcel Lica and Aurelian Bogaciu were heard Monday for approximately one hour and a half by the judges of the Pitesti Court of Appeal.

Marcel Lica’s lawyers said he does not constitute a menace to society, he collaborated with investigators and he comits to respect the restrictions imposed by the Arges Court should he be temporarily released under judicial control.

Also, Aurelian Bogaciu’s lawyers said before the judges that the preventive arrest against their client is illegal.

In his defense, Bogaciu said throughout his career as a referee he never received any money to favor a team.

Referee Aurelian Bogaciu was placed under preventive arrest for 29 days, on the night of April 29, under charges of receiving bribe.

Bogaciu is accused of having received $5,000 from FC Arges football club financer Cornel Penescu to favor his club in a game against Universitatea Craiova.

According to the National Anticorruption Department, on October 2, 2008, Aurelian Bogaciu, as football referee, appointed by the Romanian Football Federation as main referee in the game FC Arges - Universitatea Craiova, unfolded on October 3, 2008 in central Romanian city Pitesti, received from FC Arges financer Cornel Penescu, through Liviu Facaleata, $5.000 to favor FC Arges.

Also, on November 19, 2008, Bogaciu accepted and benefited from the offer made by Liviu Facaleata to be lodged, free of charge, at a hotel in Pitesti, in the context where he had not been sent to referee any games in Pitesti in that interval. Facaleata’s alleged purpose was to get Bogaciu to favor FC Arges in the upcoming League I games, when he would have been appointed by the Romanian Football Federation to referee.

Referees Marcel Savaniu and Sorin Corpodean, and suspended vice presidnet of the Central Committee for Referees Marcel Lica were placed under preventive arrest on April 23 for 29 days, under charges of receiving bribe.

The Arges court allowed, last Thursday, the request for release under judicial control of Marcel Lica, and anticorruption prosecutors challenged the decision.

According to the National Anticorruption Department, on December 23, 2008, referee Sorin Corpodean accepted the offer made by Liviu Ilie Facaleata, arrested in the same case, to receive items and money, and one day later he received from Facaleata $15,000 as well as items. The money and items were given to Corpodean for his refereeing in the game between FC Arges Pitesti - SC Sporting Club S.A. Vaslui (unfolded on October 19, 2008) as well as for favoritism in upcoming games.

The money was also given to Corpodean so that he would grant protection to FC Arges should he become president of the Central Referee Committee within the Romanian Football Federation.

Also, on November 22, 2008, as assistant referee appointed by the Romanian Football Federation, in the game FC Arges Pitesti - Otelul Galati (unfolded on November 23, 2008), referee Marcel Savaniu accepted receiving $3,000 to favor FC Arges Pitesti, an offer formulated by Liviu Facaleata, at the beckoning of club financer Gheorghe Cornel Penescu.

In the same case, on Novemebr 22, 2008, as observer appointed by the Romanian Football Federation in the game FC Arges Pitesti - Otelul Galati (unfolded on November 23), the vice president of the Central Referee Committee (CCA) Marcel Lica asked Liviu Facaleata for $3,000 to file an observation report favorable to FC Arges Pitesti. Lica received $2,000, delivered by Liviu Facaleata, at the beckoning of Cornel Penescu.
 

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