Moldovan former premier's warrant for arrest extended by another 30 days

20:05 | 10.12.2015 Category: Political

Chisinau, 10 December /MOLDPRES/ - The warrant for arrest of the former prime minister Vlad Filat has been extended by another 30 days. The decision was taken by the Buiucani district court of Chisinau, after prosecutors of the National Anticorruption Centre had submitted a petition, thereby demanding prolongation of the warrant for arrest of the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) by another 30 days.

The former prime minister Vlad Filat was not present at the court session. The prosecutor said a petition had been submitted to consider the case in Filat's absence. However, no reason regarding the health condition was invoked.

After almost five hours of session, the judges ruled to extend the warrant for arrest by another 30 days till 13 January.

Prosecutor Adriana Betisor told the judges that new evidence had been brought, proving the guilt of the PLDM leader. She also said the prolongation of the arrest would be needed because of the influence Filat would have on the file witnesses.

"I will not give many details. The session has a close and secret character. I just want to point out the potential influences of the witnesses heard in the file. These would be the grounds, plus other aspects which I cannot say," Betisor said.

The lawyer of the former prime minister, Igor Popa, said he did not agree with the magistrates' ruling and would contest it at the Court of Appeal. "The today's conclusion is groundless, we will reformulate an appeal to the Court of Appeal, where we will present the procedural infringements and lack of evidence through which the prolongation of this preventive arrest was justified," Popa said.

Vlad Filat was detained on 15 October, under a warrant issued by the National Anticorruption Centre, after the Moldovan parliament had ruled to strip him of immunity.

On 18 October, the Buiucani district court issued a warrant for preventive arrest of the former prime minister for 30 days. On 11 November, the judges extended the MP's arrest by another 30 days till 14 December.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)

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