THE BATTLE OVER THE REMOTE CONTROL Felix the cat purrs

Based on the past experiences of the legal bodies, when the defendants escaped their punishment, the National Anticorruption Department may have taken an additional precaution, by indicting Dan Voiculescu in another different case of corruption, following a denouncement made yesterday, according to some sources from the National Anticorruption Department. By the time the newspaper went to print, Dan Voiculescu had not yet left the headquarters of the National Anticorruption Department.

Thus, even if Dan Voiculescu walks away three days from now, when he is set to receive the verdict in the ICA case, another one will be waiting for him. One that is perhaps even worse.

Add to that the complaint filed by Laura Codruţa Kovesi against Mihai Gâdea, the debts of Grivco and you will get a cursory, but more comprehensive picture of the situation of "Felix the cat" (Dan Voiculescu).

There is an increased chance of Dan Voiculescu going to meet the brother of president Traian Băsescu for tea behind the prison bars.

Who will then rule over the remote control?

• The president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice: "Denigrating the head of the National Anticorruption Department and of the supreme court in TV shows is unacceptable"

It is unacceptable that "in a state of law, to have the chief-prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Department and the president of the supreme court be denigrated on several TV shows", Livia Stanciu, the president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) said yesterday.

She said that the videos with Bercea Mondial claiming that certain amounts of money had reached her and the chief-prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Department (DNA), Laura Codruţa Kovesi, were insistently resumed on TV shows.

The president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice said: "I hope that your colleagues will not hide behind the right of the public to have access to information. From my point of view, that information of public interest was not presented in good faith, the right of the public to be informed was exceeded, thus overcoming the deontological right of the journalist profession, which meant that there was a requirement of trying to avoid the potential harm to the perception and the reputation of the judicial system that could have occurred through the repeated broadcasting of those images".

The president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice added that he is urging all her colleagues to take to court people that harm the private life of magistrates.

At the end of June, the head of the National Anticorruption Department, Laura Codruţa Kovesi, filed a lawsuit against Antena 3, as a company, as well as against individuals Mihai Gâdea (the manager of Antena 3), Mugur Ciuvică, Radu Tudor, Răzvan Savaliuc and Bianca Nae, and is asking for damages of 1 million lei, as well as the joint payment of the legal fees.

Kovesi made this decision following a TV program broadcasted by Antena 3, during which several untrue statements were made against her, such as allegations that she received a payoff from the family of Sandu Anghel, nicknamed Bercea Mondial, as well as statements concerning her personal life.

The head of the National Anti-Corruption Department announced that if she wins the lawsuit, she will use the money "for humanitarian and charitable purposes".

• The lawyers of DanVoiculescu are asking for a change of venue in the ICA trial

The lawyer of Dan Voiculescu yesterday asked the High Court of Cassation and Justice for a change of venue of in Food Research Institute (ICA) trial. The request comes as, in the last hearing in that case, which was held on July 1st, the lawyers of Dan Voiculescu have complained about the attitude of the new president of the panel of judges, Camelia Bogdan, whom they accused of being biased and tried to get her to disqualify herself twice. "You've demonstrated bias. It is visible in your actions. You've trampled the legal rights of the parties. Don't let yourself get carried away", one of the lawyers told judge Camelia Bogdan, according to Agerpres.

The Bucharest Court of Appeal, with a new panel of judges, has set the next hearing for July 7th, when the final ruling will be rendered.