President Sandu Demands Evidence Amid Corruption Allegations
President Maia Sandu is calling for concrete evidence from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, under the leadership of Veronica Drăgălin, regarding the allegations levelled against magistrate Tatiana Răducanu.
Răducanu is suspected of corruption, abuse of power, and association with Veaceslav Platon and Ilan Șor. This statement was made by Maia Sandu during a scheduled TV8 broadcast on Thursday. In her statement, the head of state emphasised the importance of presenting conclusive evidence before the Presidency considers the possibility of removing Răducanu from her position as a member of the Supreme Security Council.
Maia Sandu emphasised the need for answers following the accusations, stressing that both sides – those making the accusations and the Prosecutor's Office – must provide explanations. She questioned the timing of the allegations and the whereabouts of this information until now. Sandu insisted that if the allegations are indeed true, the evidence should be presented accordingly.
Meanwhile, the head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Drăgălin, refuted claims circulating in the press regarding the origin of the messages published in the letter. She clarified that the messages were not from the three phones seized from Veaceslav Platon in 2016. Drăgălin highlighted the need for accurate information dissemination, urging individuals to verify facts before making public statements.
Drăgălin revealed that she acquired the information in April of the current year, following an informative note from a prosecutor overseeing the criminal case. When asked about her confidence in the authenticity of the messages, she pointed to contextual evidence, suggesting that the messages are likely genuine. However, she emphasised that the investigation is ongoing, and further verification is necessary.
Furthermore, Drăgălin sent a letter to various authorities, including the Parliament, Government, and Presidency, as well as prosecutors, judges, and civil society representatives who did not support the evaluation of the Pre-Vetting Commission. She clarified that while no criminal proceedings have been initiated against Tatiana Răducanu, investigations are underway based on specific allegations.
It is worth noting that shortly after the information became public, Veronica Roșca, president of the parliamentary committee on legal affairs, appointments, and immunities, announced Răducanu's resignation from her positions in the two vetting committees. In her resignation letter, Răducanu asserted the falsity of the accusations against her.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
