The defense of ex-Premier Vlad Filat demands that the Appeals Court should notify the competent bodies so that these prosecute Ilan Shor, who is a witness in the case of Filat, for his refusal to make statements, IPN reports.

“As you know from the previous hearing, Ilan Shor refused to make statements, invoking an article that says the witness has the right to keep silent if the statements that he will make run counter to his interests. We have serious questions as to the sincerity and credibility of this witness and thus requested the Appeals Court to notify the competent bodies. Today we examined the documents and evidence of the defense,” lawyer Igor Popa stated after the October 25 hearing.

The hearing involved Vlad Filat brother-in-law Ion Rusu, who manages the company “Caravita”. Ion Rusu refused to make statements for the press. “I remind that Ion Rusu is the witness for the prosecution. We invited him only to convince the Appeals Court that witness Rusu makes no accusation against Vlad Filat,” stated Igor Popa. He added that the next hearings will include important events, like the questioning of witnesses from Russia.

The next hearing was set for October 28.

The Buiucani Court of Chisinau on June 27, 2016 sentenced Vlad Filat to nine years in jail and fined him 60,000 lei for abuse of power and passive corruoption. It also ordered to confiscate posessions of Filat to the value of 791 million lei. The criminal case was srated after Ilan Shor made self-denouncing statements saying he offered Vlad Filat money and presents to the value of US$250 million while this was Prime Minister in exchange for governmental services. Vlad Filat pleads not guilty.