The Supreme Court of Justice on December 12 will consider the appeal in the case of ex-Premier Vlad Filat, which was submitted three months ago by the law office “Popa and Associates”. The application will be examined by the Court’s Penal Board in the absence of the parties, a representative of the law office stated for IPN.
On September 14, lawyer Igor Popa requested again the Supreme Court of Justice to quash the decisions of the national courts of law, to retry the case and to pronounce a new judgment by which Vlad Filat would be acquitted and set free. According to the lawyer, the annulment appeal (an extraordinary appeal method) was filed because the domestic law enables the Supreme Court to remedy the abuses and violations committed when trying Vlad Filat.
In his application, Igor Popa invoked the closed character of the hearings, violation of the right to an effective remedy and of the right to defense, non-explanation of court decisions and others. The defense considers the rehabilitation of Vlad Filat before the ECHR passes judgment will free Moldova from a new conviction at the European Court of Human Rights.
In February, the Supreme Court of Justice rejected the appeal against the Chisinau Appeals Court’s decision to uphold the Buiucani Court’s judgment by which Vlad Filat was sentenced to nine years in jail.
In August, Vlad Filat filed an application to the ECHR. The former Prime Minister complained that a number of rights guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms were violated during his trial. In 2015, Vlad Filat also submitted a complaint to the ECHR, concerning the detention conditions at Penitentiary No. 13 and his illegal arrest.
Vlad Filat was sentenced to nine years in jail for abuse of power and passive corruption following a self-denouncing statement made by Ilan Shor, who said that he offered money and presents worth about US$ 250 million to Vlad Filat when this served as Premier in exchange for governmental services. Vlad Filat pleads not guilty.
