The defense of ex-Premier Vlad Filat considers the punishment imposed on the politician is illegal. They expected that this would be acquitted as the evidence presented in the trial was collected with multiple violations. Vlad Filat was sentenced to nine years in jail for influence peddling and passive corruption. He was also fined 60,000 lei, banned from holding public posts for a five-year period and will have a part of his property confiscated, IPN reports.

“We hoped that the judges will take into account lawyers’ arguments, will thoroughly analyze the facts that seemed illogical and will pronounce an acquittal judgment. We consider that this sentence cannot be motivated and equitable. Most of the proofs shouldn’t have been accepted as they were collected with mistakes and violations of the procedures. In this criminal case, there was no real fight against corruption and it has nothing to do with the bank fraud. We consider it an offense against justice and a crime against the truth,” stated Igor Popa.

The lawyer believes the sentence is political and was planned behind the scenes so that Vlad Filat was excluded from the political arena. “It happens as in Georgia, when the former Prime Minister was sentenced and was then rehabilitated by the ECHR. I’m sure that Vlad Filat will win the case at the ECHR,” he said.

According to Igor Popa, the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair trial, the right to defense and other rights were violated during the trial. “Allowing confiscating the house of Vlad Filat without legal reason is illegal. We asked the court to order an assessment to see the damage done in this case, but our request was rejected. The prosecutor asked that all the property should be confiscated, without arguments,” he added.

The lawyer noted that this case destroyed the political and private life of Vlad Filat and they hope that the Appeals Court will decide that the hearings should be public.

Vlad Filat was arrested eight months ago following a self-denouncing statement made by the mayor of Orhei Ilan Shor, who said that he offered US$250 million bribe to the ex-Premier for particular services. The prosecution demanded that Vlad Filat be sentenced to 19 years behind bars. Ilan Shor is also under arrest in another case concerning illegalities in the management of Banca de Economii (Savings Bank).