The hearing in the case of Petrenco & company set for May 23 didn’t take place because the judge, who is the head of the panel, became sick. The defense considers the trial is actually delayed. The next hearing was scheduled for June 6, IPN reports.
“The head of the panel of judges was absent and the prosecutors were absent too. This makes us think that the absence of the judge was coordinated with the prosecutors,” said lawyer Ana Ursachi. She noted that it was the duty of the court to set a period of 30 days for deciding if keeping the judicial control in relation to the defendants was necessary.
The given time limit expires on May 26. “We asked that the given decision should be annulled. In the case of Petrenco, this was invited to take part in different meetings of European institutions. In the case of the other defendants, we invoked the right to work. But these persons cannot find employment because they are banned from leaving the municipality of Chisinau,” said the lawyer.
Ex-MP Grigore Petrenco said he was invited to take part in the PACE session and in a number of events of international organizations. He announced that on June 6, when a new hearing is to take place, he will go to the PACE session.
The members of the Petrenco group were arrested on September 6, 2015 following a protest with altercations in front of the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO). The protesters demanded to hold accountable politician Vlad Plahotniuc for his wrongdoings. According to the police, the protesters attempted to enter the PGO by force, but were hampered by police officers. Metallic chains and locks were found in the rucksacks of those arrested.
