Chisinau-based court rules to extend warrant for arrest of former premier by 30 days

Chisinau, 11 November /MOLDPRES/ - The Buiucani court of the Chisinau municipality today ruled to extend the warrant for arrest of the former prime minister, Vlad Filat, by another 30 days. The move took place, after prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Centre (CNA) had submitted a petition, thereby demanding prolongation of the warrant for arrest of the leader of Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM). 

The ex-prime minister did not come to court today, invoking health reasons. 

At the same time, during the court session, Vlad Filat's lawyers demanded challenging of magistrate Ghenadie Pavliuc, who considered the case of the former prime minister; yet, the demand was turned down. 

After almost three hours of discussions, the magistrates ruled to extend the warrant for arrest by another 30 days, which means till 14 December. 

"The grounds earlier set forth in court persist and are up-to-date at present too. Moreover, CNA prosecutors brought evidence, showing the presence of risks that, if the defendant is tried at large, there will be interferences in carrying out actions on this case. We are in process of prosecution, we are to carry out hearings of more civil servants," prosecutor Adrian Betisor said. 

"We proved to court that Vlad Filat poses no risks to evade prosecution. We describe the court ruling as an attempt to intimidate the defence and automatically put under preventive detention any public person with minimum of suspicions," the lawyer of the former prime minister, Igor Popa, said.    

According to Popa, Liberal Democratic MP Vlad Filat conveyed a message, thereby saying that "he is ready to fight up till the end and he is just waiting to come before court to prove his innocence."

Accused of bank fraud and bribery, Vlad Filat was detained on 15 October, under a mandate issued by the National Anti-corruption Centre, after the Moldovan parliament had ruled to strip him of immunity. Prosecutor General Corneliu Gurin demanded  the lift of the immunity of the former prime minister, invoking the reason that Vlad Filat must be inquired for his alleged direct involvement in frauds from Banca de Economii. 

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)