The Chisinau Appeals Court next week begins to examine the appeals filed by the prosecution and defense in the case of former Prime Minister Vlad Filat. The first hearing was set to take place on September 20, starting at 1pm, IPN reports.

By the decision of the Buiucani Court of June 27, Vlad Filat was sentenced to nine years in jail and fined 60,000 lei. The judges also ordered confiscating illegally obtained property to the value of 791 million lei. The prosecutors consider the sentence is too mild and demand that the ex-Premier be sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment.

For their part, the lawyers for the former Premier appealed the decision of the first court as groundless and abusive, saying also that it runs counter to the national and international legislation. Lawyer Igor Popa earlier stated that the judges used evidence that was illegally collected by the prosecutors and that is inconclusive and inappropriate.

Vlad Filat pleads not guilty.