Six members of the regional media group Gazeta Trust were placed under criminal investigation on Monday, charged with the creation of a crime group and blackmail. They face hearings before anti-organized crime prosecutor’s office DIICOT in Cluj, north-western Romania, according to reports today.

The group includes Gazeta Trust general manager Liviu Man, “Gazeta de Cluj” investigation manager Ioan Otel, executive director Dorel Vidican, administrative manager Aurel Muresan and another person, apparently an accountant. They were retained by the police and brought to the Palace of Justice in Cuj today.

According to prosecutor Mircea Hrudei, they are charged with blackmailing businesspeople, politicians and public office managers during 2005. The targets were threatened with revelations on their activities in the pages of the group’s newspapers unless they signed advertising contracts.

Prosecutors say the targets belonged mainly to the counties of Cluj and Bistrita and the goods received were used in the personal interest of the blackmailers.