Judge Alexandru Gheorghieș, of the Bălți Appeals Court, was arrested. Prosecutors and officers of the Security and Intelligence Service carried out searches in the judge’s office, IPN reports.

The Superior Council of Magistracy today accepted caretaker prosecutor general Dumitru Robu’s request to investigate a judge who is suspected of unjust enrichment and gave its consent for performing such investigative measures as searches, detention and arrest. The name of the judge wasn’t made public.

In a live broadcast from the scene, the local publication Nord-News said that starting with 2014 until present, the judge acquired real estate through the agency of third persons, but didn’t indicate this in his tax returns. The value of the acquired property is much higher than the incomes earned officially as a judge.

Contacted earlier by IPN for a comment, prosecutor in charge of media relations at the Prosecutor General’s Office Mariana Cherpec said the names of the two judges cannot be revealed as this is personal data and also due to the presumption of innocence.

Oleg Melniciuc, the first judge who was tried for unjust enrichment, was convicted to seven years in jail this September. The judge does not admit his guilt. A final decision in this case hasn’t been yet taken.