The first public hearings of the candidates for membership of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) began on Friday, 7 October, and the video recordings were published on Saturday, 8 October, by the Pre-Vetting Commission.

The first candidate to be heard was Livia Mitrofan – a judge at the Chisinau Court of Appeals, Centre seat. She was asked about the apartment she bought with the money she received from her parents who worked abroad. The declared value of the apartment, bought in 2012, is 256 thousand lei. She also answered questions about a Mercedes Vaneo car, imported and purchased in 2012 for 28 thousand lei.

According to her wealth statement, Livia Mitrofan also purchased a Toyota Rav 4 car, manufactured in 2014, in 2020 for 200 thousand lei.

“When I was answering these questions, my feeling was that the Commission had to find the millionaires in the system and it found me, including this 46-square-meter apartment, where I live to this day with two children. But I hope that this exercise will be beneficial for us, for our society. And I would like to mention that when I was writing the answers, I felt like at confession, in front of a priest. But I understand and I realize that this is a chance for the judicial system to rehabilitate its image”, commented Judge Livia Mitrofan.

The second candidate heard was Maria Frunze – a judge at the Chisinau Court of Appeals, Centre seat. The members of the Pre-Vetting Commission did not have any questions for this candidate, as she would have answered exhaustively in writing to all questions about her wealth, income and expenses.

Mariana Frunze declares a residential house, acquired in 1998, with an area of 239 square meters, worth 639 thousand lei. In 2021, she came into possession of a 68-square-metre apartment worth 28 854 euros, but which has a market value of 58 395 euros. The explanation is that the flat is part of a project for employees of the judiciary, and the price was low, at 420 euros per square metre.

The third candidate heard was Ioana Chironeț – a judge at the Chisinau Court of Appeals, Ciocana seat. She provided explanations about a loan of 140 thousand lei, which she took in 2019 and paid back until 2021. The judge did not declare the loan in the declaration submitted to ANI for 2021. She explained that she had a small amount left. She was also asked about the sale of a plot of land, a dwelling house and an annex.

The judge indicates in her last wealth statement two agricultural lands and a 77-square-metre apartment, bought in 1993 for 353 thousand lei. The market value of the house is indicated at 800 thousand lei, and the judge clarifies that its price has increased in the meantime.

In 2019, she purchased a Suzuki Vitara car manufactured in the same year, worth 280 thousand lei.

In 2022, Chironeț was the subject of a complaint to ANI on the initiation of a control of compliance with the legal regime of impossibility, on the grounds that she simultaneously holds the position of judge in the Chisinau Court, Ciocana seat, and judge-inspector in the Judicial Inspectorate under the SCM, a position she resigned in June 2022. The inspection was refused.

The hearings took place in public session. Civil society, media representatives and the general public may attend, by prior notification to the Commission Secretariat at press@vettingmd.com.

After the hearings of the candidates for membership of the SJC, the Pre-Vetting Commission will issue reasoned decisions on whether or not to promote the evaluation. In case of non-promotion of the assessment, the person will not be able to apply for positions in the self-administration bodies of judges and prosecutors. The Commission’s conclusions may serve as grounds for criminal investigations against those rejected if discrepancies are found between declared income and actual wealth.