Anti Corruption Chief Dragalin Responds to CRJM's False Claims
The head of the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, responded to the public statement issued by the Legal Resources Center (CRJM) four days ago, concerning the resignation of Judge Tatiana Răducanu.
This resignation followed a letter sent by Dragalin, which stated that the magistrate "is close to and acted in the interests of Veaceslav Platon and Aureliu Colenco, the current main lawyer representing the interests of Ilan Șor."
Dragalin asserted that the CRJM statement contains false accusations and suggested that the NGO representatives hire better lawyers. These mutual accusations arise on the eve of the vetting of prosecutors, beginning with the anti corruption prosecutors. Many of these prosecutors, as Dragalin previously noted, might choose to leave the system to avoid external evaluation.
"CRJM claims that I misled the public and refers to the CSM decision from April 15, 2014 – this decision is cited in the letter with a link (page 3, note 5). If a lawyer were to read the following sentences in the letter, they would see the CSM decision from October 7, 2014 (page 4, note 9) and understand that, the second time, CSM rejected the same request to lift immunity, resulting in the closing of the case against former judge Aureliu Colenco," wrote Veronica Dragalin on her Facebook page.
Additionally, Dragalin stated that the attacks and false accusations do not offend her and that she will continue to fight against corruption. "I have no political ambitions and my personal image does not matter. My success will be measured by the concrete results delivered by the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office. I do not have time to respond to all the absurdities because I work as a prosecutor on important criminal cases. Rest assured that I will continue to fight against corruption and in the interest of our citizens," wrote Veronica Dragalin.
In a statement issued after the resignation of Tatiana Răducanu, a member of the CRJM, the non-governmental organisation claimed that Răducanu voted for lifting the immunity of Judge Colenco and did not run for the leadership of the CSM. The CRJM also noted that "it is illegal for the data of a criminal case to be made public" and that the criminal investigation targeting a member of the vetting commission is also illegal. "According to the law, this is the exclusive competence of the General Prosecutor, and the initiation of the criminal investigation can only take place with the agreement of the Commission," the CRJM statement reads.
On May 14, the Parliament voted to accept the resignation request of Tatiana Răducanu from her position as a member of the external evaluation commissions of judges and prosecutors. Commenting on the scandal surrounding the Vetting and Pre-vetting Commission, Igor Grosu stated that "it is yet another attempt by prosecutors and judges who did not pass or understand that they have no chance of passing the evaluation process, to attack the Evaluation Commission." "I assure them on this occasion that the Commission will continue its activity and the evaluation process will proceed. (...) I encourage decent prosecutors and judges to move forward confidently; those who cannot justify their wealth, lands, houses, this is it. Gentlemen, change your occupation," stated Igor Grosu.
Tatiana Răducanu, a member of the Pre-vetting and Vetting Commission, targeted in a criminal process initiated by the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office, decided to resign from these positions "to maintain her dignity and the status of a resigning judge," but also to avoid the degeneration of this controversy. In a letter sent to the press, she stated that vetting in justice is a reform that must continue and is the most effective method to eliminate compromised individuals in this field.
Tatiana Răducanu announced her resignation from the Pre-Vetting Commission and the Vetting Commission of prosecutors, following a letter leaked to the press, in which the head of the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA) suspects her, within a criminal investigation, of potentially having connections and acting in the interests of fugitives Ilan Șor and Veaceslav Platon.
Confirming the authenticity of the letter, the head of the PA, Veronica Dragalin, said that the goal was to prevent a risk to the justice system and not to discredit the evaluation procedures.
President Maia Sandu, in turn, demands concrete evidence from the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office regarding the accusations against Judge Tatiana Răducanu. Once conclusive evidence is presented, the Presidency may consider excluding the judge from the position of member of the Supreme Security Council.
Despite this scandal, the Pre-Vetting Commission announced that it will continue its activity and complete the evaluation procedures, according to the mandate provided by legislation.
Translation by Iuri Tataru
