Moldovan judge to be released after 72 detention hours expire

Chisinau, 29 June /MOLDPRES/ - Judge Oleg Melniciuc will be released upon the expiration of 72 hours since his detention, as decision-makers have already managed to get more evidence. The head of the Anticorruption Persecutor’s Office, Viorel Morari, made statements to this effect.   

Morari noted that prosecutors would not submit a petition on applying the arrest measure for insufficiency of reasons. “There is no risk to jeopardize the march of investigation and there are no reasons for applying the arrest measure. At the same time, no evidence has been established able to reason a repeated request to the Superior Council of Magistracy; I mean the committing of an offence or risk of evading the criminal prosecution body. Also, in the 72 hours, prosecution actions have been undertaken, which allowed establishing more evidence,” Morari said.   

The head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor‘s Office said that “the magistrate does not recognize his guilt; yet, he makes statements for the inquiry.”  

Judge Oleg Melniciuc was detained two days ago, within a file opened against him for illegal enrichment. The detention took place within searches at his home and office.

Oleg Melniciuc is the first judge criminally prosecuted based on the Article 330-2, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code, Illegal Enrichment.

If found guilty, Melniciuc runs the risk of being fined with 500,000 lei (about 25,000 euros), or to be sentenced for 7-15 years of imprisonment, with the deprivation of right to hold certain offices or exercise a certain activity for a period of 10-15 years.    

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor A. Raileanu)