President of CSM about the creation of the Anti-Corruption Court: “Its need is unquestionable”
The need for an anti-corruption court is undeniable; however, its establishment will require time, according to Sergiu Caraman, the president of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM). He emphasizes that such a court is crucial for prioritizing major corruption cases and ensuring they are resolved within a reasonable timeframe. This step is necessary for restoring credibility in the judiciary.
“Society expects results, especially in major corruption cases. The perception of justice has been affected because these significant cases have often dragged on. This has led to a sense of impunity, as cases are sometimes either concluded late or dismissed for various reasons,” stated Sergiu Caraman during an interview on RLive's Rezoomat show.
In the absence of a specialized court, the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) decided to assign corruption cases to specialized judges within the Chisinau Court. Caraman claims this measure is already yielding positive results.
"At the Chisinau Court, we now have judges who specialize in handling these cases. The process is running much more smoothly than before this specialization was implemented. These cases are being examined promptly and as a priority, in accordance with legal timelines. Several decisions and sentences have already been issued in corruption cases, and we expect this trend to continue positively at the first instance," explained the SCM president.
Similar progress was observed at the Supreme Court of Justice, where corruption cases are also being prioritized. Caraman assures that all outstanding cases will be resolved soon.
"It is encouraging to see that judges understand society's demand for swift resolutions on these cases, and they are committed to examining them as quickly as possible."
For this progress to be sustained and strengthened, Caraman believes institutionalisation of specialization is necessary. He argues that the creation of an anti-corruption court would facilitate ongoing training for judges, provide necessary resources, and ensure priority is given to these cases.
“I understand that establishing this court and the desired structure will take some time, but it is essential. If we want to ensure that this category of cases is handled efficiently, as stipulated by law, and to provide quality judgments, specialization is crucial.”
We remind you that in March 2023, the president of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, urged Parliament and the Government to create an Anti-Corruption Court, a specialized entity aimed at investigating grand corruption and corruption within the justice system. Following this, the Supreme Security Council also requested that Parliament prepare the legal framework for this court’s establishment. According to the proposed plan, the Anti-Corruption Court would have its own headquarters, and judges would undergo a rigorous vetting process based on specific legal criteria.
