The Central Court of Appeal rejected on Wednesday the requests for re-hearing of witnesses submitted by both the lawyers of Marina Tauber and the prosecutors, in the case where the deputy was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. The examination of the case continues, and the next session is scheduled for November 17, reports IPN.

The decision of the first instance was contested both by the defense lawyers and by the prosecutors, who disagreed on the part concerning the termination of the criminal process for interference in the administration of justice.

According to the defense, the appeal process is in an early stage, and the requests for witness hearings have been rejected. “Everything that is done in the order of appeal is a mere formality. Nobody wants to delve into the essence. The aim is to uphold the decision of the first instance as quickly as possible,” said Marina Tauber’s lawyer, Sergiu Moraru, for IPN.

And the prosecutors requested the re-hearing of the witnesses on the segment that targets the charge of interference in the administration of justice, but the judges also rejected this request. The prosecution did not agree with the court’s decision on this segment. Thus, they request the partial annulment of the sentence and the retrial of the case with the acknowledgment of Marina Tauber’s guilt also for the offense of interference in the administration of justice. The prosecutors ask for the application of a cumulative punishment of 13 years in prison, proportional to the severity of the acts.

The meeting was adjourned until November 17th.

Marina Tauber was convicted in absentia on September 30. The former MP claims that the case against her is politically motivated and “stitched together with white thread.” According to her, there is no evidence or facts to prove her guilt.