Based on the appraisals of the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), the Superior Council of Magistracy ruled that the judge of the Chisinau Appeals Court Domnica Manole is incompatible with the post of judge. The Council will request President Igor Dodon to dismiss her from post. The judge, who attended the Council’s meeting where the given decision was taken, described it as political order, noting she will challenge it in the Supreme Court of Justice, IPN reports.
The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Justice within 15 days. Domnica Manole told the press that her dismissal was planned long ago and these appraisals of the SIS were prepared concertedly. She noted she possesses information that employees of the SIS were influenced to give critical appraisals.
“I consider the decision of the Superior Council of Magistracy is illegal. It was taken in breach of the law. The Council does not have the power to dismiss judges based on the appraisal of the SIS. An administrative body cannot decide the faith of a judge. There are international standards providing that the work of a judge cannot depend on the administrative factor. Regrettably, the Council neglected all the legal norms. This is an abuse that could never be explained. I think it will remain in history,” stated Domnica Manole.
The judge also said that the presumption of innocence was violated. She challenged all the steps taken by the prosecution bodies, but, in this case, the hurry to get rid of an inconvenient judge is too big.
Domnica Manole noted the decision of the Superior Council of Magistracy is also aimed at intimidating other judges who could act as she did when she refused to yield to the pressure exerted by the administrative factor.
Last April, Domnica Manole passed a judgment by which the Central Election Commission was obliged to hold the constitutional referendum initiated by the Platform “Dignity and Truth”. The request to the Superior Council of Magistracy to allow investigating the judge was made following the Supreme Court of Justice’s decision saying that the given judgment was evidently illegal and the then CEC chairman Iurie Ciocan’s request to hold the judge accountable.
