The case of former Prime Minister Vlad Filat will be examined by another panel of judges. The decision was taken by the Buiucani Court, where the first hearing was to take place after the case was sent to court, on December 29, IPN reports.

As the panel of judges that was to try the case on Tuesday declined to do it, the case is to be transferred to another judge and the same procedure will be restarted. “The judges invoked different arguments which they consider make them unsuitable for further examining this case,” said prosecutor Adriana Betisor.

She also said that a request to extend the period of custody for Vlad Filat was submitted today, but it will be examined after the case is transmitted to another judge.

Contacted by IPN, Vlad Filat’s lawyer Igor Popa said that today’s decision is a success because the defense insisted on changing the judges. The judges who declined to examine the case today probably intuited that they will be removed at the request of the lawyers.

The defense said they asked that the panel of judges should be removed because one of the judges earlier took part in the examination of the prosecution’s request to extend the period of custody. As to the other two judges, there are other circumstances that question their impartiality.

The lawyer specified that Vlad Filat didn’t come to the hearing because he hasn’t yet received the materials of the case and could not analyze them to prepare his defense.

The case of Vlad Filat was sent to court last week. Adriana Betisor said the accused is suspected of taking 800 million lei bribe. If he is found guilty of influence peddling and passive corruption, the former Premier, who was arrested in October, will serve 7 to 15 years in jail and will be banned from holding particular public posts.