Romanian TV Station Owner Charged With Blackmail

Diaconescu was heard by anticorruption prosecutors in February this year as witness in a case regarding a blackmail complaint filed by Ion Mot, mayor of a commune in Arad county, western Romania, against Doru Parv.

According to sources close to the investigation, Mot accused Parv of soliciting bribe in order not to disclose on Diaconescu's TV channel images aimed to discredit him. The decision to start criminal investigations against Diaconescu, dated June 18, shows that the TV station owner threatened Mot, both directly and through Parv, in an attempt to get Mot to give them EUR200,000.

Daniel Fenechiu, both Parv's and Diaconescu's lawyer, told MEDIAFAX Monday that prosecutors hold no other direct evidence against Diaconescu, except a recording of a TV show broadcast in 2009, adding that the complaint filed by Mot targeted only Parv, who made no accusations whatsoever against Diaconescu during hearings.

Diaconescu was again heard by anticorruption prosecutors earlier Monday.

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