Judges examined for involvement in criminal activities

It is a normal practice for courts to thoroughly examine the persons who apply for court president, vice president and judge through the Security and Information Service (SIS), the head of the Moldovan Institute for Human Rights (IDOM) Vanu Jereghi has told Info-Prim Neo when asked to comment on a related decision made by the Supreme Council of Magistrates in a closed-door meeting on March 15. The Council's president Nicolae Timofti said the information about the applicants is confidential and thus the press was banned access to the meeting. Vanu Jereghi said that before appointing the candidates, the courts check if the judges have been involved in criminal activities or have relatives in the criminal world. According to him, this is a normal practice for those who take decisions as regards the naming of the judges to posts. The IDOM director stated that when such information is checked, the meetings of the Supreme Council of Magistrates can be held behind closed doors. “The press may be announced if there are identified unusual facts or situations that may be of interest for society. If there are found no incompatibilities, the information about a given person is private and the meetings can be held in secret,” he said, adding the move is in accordance with the law on the examination of holders and candidates for public posts. In another development, Vanu Jereghi said that a person who worked for the Security and Information Service can hold other posts, but should keep the possessed information secret. He refereed to the case of former SIS head Valeriu Pasat. “Valeriu Pasat knows state secrets, information about politicians. He was employed at a Russian international company. I wonder how he got this post where he is paid €80,000. Could he provide certain information in exchange? I think a person who served with the SIS should be banned from going abroad so that the secrecy of information is guaranteed,” Vanu Jereghi said.