The defense for ex-Premier Vlad Filat is concerned about the limitation of the legal rights and freedoms of the defendant who is held on remand at Penitentiary No. 13. According to the lawyers, last week Filat was to meet with a notary, but the penitentiary’s administration, even if it initially gave its consent, later contacted the notary and informed him that the meeting will not take place. For its part, the Department of Penitentiary Institutions says the meeting didn’t take place because the penitentiary’s jurist was absent.
In a press release, the former Premier’s lawyers say that after submitting an application on May 18, Vlad Filat was allowed by the court to have a meeting with the notary at the penitentiary for authenticating a number of documents. Following the initial consent of the penitentiary’s administration, the meeting was planned for May 20, 4pm. The same day, the notary was contacted by the prison’s administration and informed that the meeting with Vlad Filat will not take place, without being offered plausible explanations.
“The lawyers’ request to allow MP Vlad Filat to have a meeting with the notary on May 24 was also not taken into consideration. The administration of penitentiary No. 13 refuses to execute the court’s order, without providing reasonable explanations. We consider that this gesture is unjustified and limits the person’s right to benefit from services inherent in a democratic society,” said the lawyers.
Contacted by IPN, the press service of the Department of Penitentiary Institutions said the meeting of Vlad Filat and the notary didn’t take place because the penitentiary’s jurist was at a hearing up to that moment. Such meetings cannot take place spontaneously. They necessitate time and the involvement of a number of services such as the guard, security and regime so that the situation in the penitentiary is not destabilized and the rights of the other over 1,000 persons held at Penitentiary No. 13 are not violated.
Vlad Filat faces 7 to 15 years in jail and ban on holding public posts for influence peddling and passive corruption. He pleads not guilty.
