Coalition Leaders Demand Removal of Pre-Vetting Commission President Over Integrity Concerns
Leaders from the coalition consisting of the Platform for Dignity and Truth, the League of Cities and Communes, the Party of Change, and the Coalition for Unity and Welfare have officially submitted a formal complaint, urging for the dismissal of Herman von Hebel, the current President of the Pre-Vetting Commission in the Republic of Moldova.
The complaint is based on alleged evidence suggesting a lack of integrity and an unsuitable reputation for his current position. It has been lodged with the Integrity Evaluation Commission responsible for assessing candidates for membership in the self-administration bodies of judges and prosecutors.
The coalition emphasises that on March 25, the investigative portal www.anticorupție.md published a thorough examination, drawing from various international sources, which corroborated the accusations against the President of the Pre-Vetting Commission, indicating a breach of the law.
According to the investigative report, Herman von Hebel is alleged to have violated the law by terminating several employees of the International Criminal Court and by withholding pertinent information regarding his current role as a judge at the Court of Appeal in Den Bosch, the Netherlands. Such actions are deemed incompatible with his responsibilities as a member of the Evaluation Commission.
Subsequently, during a parliamentary session, the opposition called for the President of the Pre-Vetting Commission to testify. This request stems from concerns that the allegations against him could compromise the integrity of the entire process of evaluating magistrates.
In response to the allegations, Herman von Hebel denies any wrongdoing, dismissing the information presented by the Chișinău press as an article from 2018, originally published by the Dutch press and translated by Moldovan journalists. He contends that the article contains inaccuracies.
Addressing the accusations, Herman von Hebel stated, "I became aware of this article for the first time towards the end of last week. Upon reviewing its contents, it became apparent that the majority of its claims pertain to my tenure at the Criminal Court, alongside a translated article from late 2018. However, this article fails to encompass the full scope of events, as there were only a few unsubstantiated accusations. (...) I firmly believe that I am well-suited for the role of President of the Pre-Vetting Commission."
Furthermore, during the "360 Degrees" program on Radio Moldova, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu asserted that the attacks in the press are instigated by judges and prosecutors who failed the exceptional evaluation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
