The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) announces that, jointly with the National Anti-Corruption Centre (NAC), it is carrying out searches in the offices, cars and homes of the four judges for whom the plenary of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) admitted on Tuesday, November 14, the referrals of the acting Prosecutor General, requesting the release of the consent to carry out criminal prosecution actions against some magistrates, criminally investigated by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

According to acting SCM President Sergiu Caraman, the four judges are from the Chisinau Court of Appeals and the Chisinau Court of Appeal, and the criminal cases are connected.

From the images published by CNA, it can be seen how officers conducted searches at the Buiucani seat of the Chisinau Court.

In the first case, one of the judges is suspected of passive bribery and influence peddling (Art. 324 para.(3) lit.a), art. 326 para.(1), art. 326 para.(11), art. 326 para.(2) lit.b) of the Criminal Code). Therefore, the Council gave its consent to start the criminal prosecution, including the arrest, detention, arrest and searches.

For two other judges, who are suspected of complicity in influence peddling (Art. 42 para.(5), art. 326 para.(11), art. 326 para.(2) letter b) of the Criminal Code) and, respectively, trafficking in influence (art. 326 para.(2) letter b) of the Criminal Code), consent was issued for the same prosecution actions.

The last judge involved is suspected of active bribery (Art. 325 (3) (a1) of the Criminal Code), and consent has been issued for the initiation of criminal prosecution, forcible arrest, detention, arrest and searches.

“In this context, we wish to ensure that criminal investigations are carried out within the limits of criminal procedural law, with respect for all the rights and freedoms of persons being prosecuted, ensuring the principle of presumption of innocence, confidentiality of criminal proceedings, respect for privacy and personal data. We will come back with further details”, said the PA.

By 8 votes “for” and 0 votes “against”, the SCM admitted the referral by the acting Prosecutor General on the issuance of the consent for criminal proceedings against four judges, without making public the names of the magistrates.