Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Turkish Man Wanted by US Seeks Release from Romanian Jail

A Turkish businessman sought by the United States on allegations he sold equipment to Iran's military in violation of sanctions asked a Romanian court Thursday to free him from arrest.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Turkish businessman sought by the United States on allegations he sold equipment to Iran's military in violation of sanctions asked a Romanian court Thursday to free him from arrest.

Tavan Resit owns a Turkish-based company, Ramor Group, which the U.S. Treasury Department alleges provided marine power equipment to Iran's navy.

He was arrested June 8 in Romania, where he had traveled to meet with U.S. officials. His lawyer, Catalin Predoiu, a former Romanian justice minister, said he went to Romania to deny any wrongdoing to the Americans.

Predoiu asked a court to transfer him to house arrest because of ill health. He also said that Romanian officials didn't have a copy of the U.S. arrest warrant, as is required in extradition cases. He claimed his client hadn't broken Romanian or Turkish laws.

The court, however, later ruled to keep him under arrest. The court approved the lawyers' request to obtain information about the arrest warrant.

Resit has said the case concerns two yacht motors he sold to Iranians which can be used for military purposes.

Another lawyer, Mihai Mares, said a U.S. compliance officer in February approved the equipment that Resit's company was intending to export.

On July 18, the U.S. Treasury Department put Resit on a list of people and groups that allegedly aided Iran's military or its elite Revolutionary Guard.

A hearing on his possible extradition has been set for Sept. 21.

Categories / Courts, Criminal, Government, International, National, Politics

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...