Evghenia Guțul and Svetlana Popan back in court: Defense appeals verdict, prosecutors stand firm

On Monday, the lawyers for Comrat Mayor Evghenia Guțul and Svetlana Popan, the former secretary of the "Șor" Party, once again requested the court to overturn their convictions. Similar to the previous hearing, both defendants participated via videoconference and denied the charges brought against them by the prosecution. In contrast, the prosecution argues that the evidence presented establishes the guilt of Guțul and Popan.

Minister of Justice, on Radio Moldova: "The reform was a reset of the entire system"

On Monday, October 13, during the "La 360 de grade" show on Radio Moldova, Minister Veronica Mihailov-Moraru highlighted several key achievements of the justice reform. These include the establishment of new self-administration bodies within the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Superior Council of Prosecutors, the reform of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), the modernization of the Constitutional Court law, the vetting process for judges and prosecutors, and the enhancement of the capabilities of specialized anti-corruption and organized crime prosecutors' offices.

Almost one million cigarettes found hidden in truck roof at Leușeni–Albița; two men detained

Officials uncovered a significant haul of nearly one million contraband cigarettes, which is equivalent to approximately 50,000 packs, at the Leușeni-Albița border crossing. Prosecutors from the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), along with Customs Service officers, found the cigarettes concealed in the roof of a truck trailer. As a result of the criminal investigation, two men— the driver and the alleged organizer of the transport— were detained.

Court is examining evidence in the Babutchi case

A new hearing is underway in the case of Babutchi, the businesswoman who died earlier this year during an illegal surgery at a beauty salon in Chisinau. The court is reviewing the evidence presented by prosecutors, who are seeking prison sentences of up to five years for the anesthesiologist and nurse involved in the incident. The victim's husband has vowed to continue pursuing justice until it is served.

Platon wins ECHR case over rights violations in Moldovan prisons; Justice Ministry reacts

The Republic of Moldova violated the rights of Veaceslav Platon during his detention from 2016 to 2020 at Penitentiary No. 13 in Chisinau, and must pay him 15,600 euros in moral damages and 2,000 euros in legal costs. The decision was made by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which established that the total amount of 17,600 euros must be paid within three months from the date of the final judgment.

Former “Șor” Party’s Florești leader tried for illegally funding 8 million lei

The president of the Florești territorial office of the former "Șor" party risks up to seven years in prison after allegedly accepting and spending, including for the remuneration of some protesters, eight million lei from a criminal group.

Woman from Nisporeni, sentenced to 6 years in prison for human trafficking

She allegedly kidnapped and forcibly transported a young orphan to Chisinau, whom she forced to have sexual relations for payment in several apartments in Chisinau. A 35-year-old woman from Nisporeni district, was sentenced to six years in prison for human trafficking for sexual exploitation, the Chisinau Prosecutor's Office announced.

Court of Appeal suspends the Modern Democratic Party of Moldova for a year. The Party reacts

Chisinau Court of Appeal decided to limit the activity of the Modern Democratic Party of Moldova (PDMM) for a period of 12 months, at the request of the Ministry of Justice, which accuses the party of involvement in subversive actions and illegal foreign funding. The party's leader, Boris Foca, rejects the accusations, calling the decision unfounded and claims that he will appeal it to the Supreme Court of Justice.

Videoconference hearing and rejected requests: Guțul and Popan remain behind bars

Two months after their conviction, Bashkan Evghenia Guțul and Svetlana Popan, the secretary of the former "Șor" party, are seeking release. However, the Chisinau Court of Appeal rejected their request, which was submitted by their lawyers on Wednesday. Additionally, the judges denied a request for repeated witness hearings and for conducting an economic and financial analysis. The hearing at the Centru Court of Appeal was conducted via videoconference, and the lawyers had also requested that the defendants be physically present in court. This request was also denied by the judges.

Plahotniuc again refuses court escort; next hearing set for October 20

Former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc continues to refuse to attend court hearings. He did not appear on Wednesday, October 8, at the Chisinau Court based in Buiucani, where the examination of the "bank fraud" case resumed. According to the judges, the court received a notice of refusal and a request signed by Plahotniuc, stating that he requested not to be escorted to the hearing on October 8 because he needed time to familiarize himself with the case materials.

Țuțu hearing postponed; ex-deputy will be brought to court forcibly on October 20

Former Democratic MP Constantin Țuțu did not attend the court hearing scheduled for October 8, where he faces charges of illicit enrichment and influence peddling. Additionally, his lawyer was also absent, leading to the hearing being postponed until October 20. Prosecutors have stated that at the next hearing, Constantin Țuțu will be brought to court forcibly and will be represented by a public defender to prevent further delays in the case. Furthermore, the former MP's lawyer will face a fine of 2,000 lei for their unjustified absence.

Judges’ integrity review nears completion

The process of evaluating the integrity of judges in the Republic of Moldova, referred to as vetting, has reached its final stage for magistrates. Andrei Bivol, the Vice President of the Judicial Evaluation Commission, mentioned on the Moldova 1 TV show "IN CONTEXT" that approximately 17% of judges in the lower courts will undergo evaluation. He also stated that all assessments of active judges are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.