Moldovan government makes audio, video recording of hearings mandatory

Chisinau, 14 November /MOLDPRES/ - Judges will be required to record hearings and trials on audio and / or video platforms and to inform sides about their right to receive copies of the records, according to a draft approved by the government today.

Another regulation that is found in the draft refers to the possibility of summoning the sides in a trial by fax, mail, informative note or telegraph.

"To combat the faulty practice of using audio recording systems by the courts, to enhance the transparency of the judicial system and to ensure the rights and interests of the participants in the process, we propose the exclusion of the "unless impossible" clause from the Code of Criminal Procedure. This amendment requires that all hearings be recorded audio and / or video", said Justice Minister Oleg Efrim, during the government meeting.

The draft law is an action under the Action Plan or the implementation of the Justice Sector Reform Strategy for the years 2011-2016. With the financial assistance from the Moldova Governance Threshold Country Program financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation and managed by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), all courtrooms in Moldova were equipped with audio recording sets in 2009.