Chief Prosecutor's Authenticated Letter Sparks Justice System Scrutiny
The letter signed by the Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, addressed to the candidates not promoted by the Pre-Vetting Commission dated May 14, 2024, is authentic, announced the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. However, the institution has not published the letter.
In a communiqué released the day after the press publication of the letter signed by Veronica Dragalin, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office stated that, after analysing the evidence obtained in a criminal case, they acted immediately to prevent a risk to the justice system and high-level corruption cases under their management. After informing the country's leadership and the presidents of the Pre-Vetting Commission and the Prosecutors Vetting Commission, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office also informed the individuals whose fundamental rights had been affected, according to the communiqué.
"It was not the prosecutors and judges from the Republic of Moldova who promoted a candidate to the Superior Council of Magistracy with an active criminal case for corruption. It was not the prosecutors and judges who confirmed the integrity of a member of the Superior Council of Prosecutors who had dubious financial links and transactions and sabotaged the competition for the position of General Prosecutor. It was not the prosecutors and judges who published articles in the international media about a member of the Vetting Commission. And it was not the prosecutors and judges in the system today who, in 2013-2014, during the Banking Fraud and Laundromat scandals, had meetings and discussions with Veaceslav Platon, Ilan Șor, or other fugitives sentenced to long prison terms.
There are still toxic individuals in the justice system. These individuals will be held to disciplinary accountability by the reformed Superior Council of Magistracy and Superior Council of Prosecutors, and their financial integrity will be further checked by the National Integrity Authority. These toxic individuals will be sent to prison by the honest prosecutors and judges who continue to work on investigations against corrupt prosecutors and judges, applying criminal procedures that respect human rights, are transparent and objective," the communiqué further states.
On Tuesday, May 14, a letter signed by the head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, was published in the press. It was addressed to prosecutors, judges, and representatives of civil society who did not pass the Pre-Vetting Commission's evaluation.
The letter mentions that the investigation recently initiated by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office raises suspicions about a member of the Pre-Vetting Commission, Tatiana Răducanu, suggesting that she is close to and acted in the interests of Veaceslav Platon and Aureliu Colenco, the current chief lawyer representing the interests of Ilan Șor.
"Based on the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova and legal provisions, including those that obligate prosecutors to defend the fundamental rights and freedoms protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), in my role as Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office managing this criminal process, I find it necessary to inform the judges, prosecutors, and members of civil society who were evaluated and not promoted by the Pre-Vetting Commission with the participation of Tatiana Răducanu about the following information, given the possibility that your fundamental right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial court, established by law, guaranteed by Article 6 ECHR, was violated," the letter states.
Subsequently, the president of the legal, appointments, and immunities commission, Veronica Roșca, announced that Tatiana Răducanu resigned from her position as a member of the two vetting commissions.
In her letter addressed to the commission, the judge states that the accusations made in the letter signed by Dragalin are false and do not correspond to reality.
It should be noted that Tatiana Răducanu is also a member of the Supreme Security Council and the Independent Advisory Anti-Corruption Committee at the Presidency.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
