Raider attacks were organized with assistance of jurists, Timofti

The raider attacks that caused damage of billions of lei to the state budget involved a number of jurists, President Nicolae Timofti said in the General Assembly of Judges on June 8. He stated that there are many problems in the legal system that should be immediately dealt with, Info-Prim Neo repots. “The problems faced by the judges refer to the working conditions and pays, but I’m sure that they will be solved. More serious are the raider attacks that caused essential damage to the state budget and that took place with the help of the justice. This is regrettable as, when they steal from the state, they steal from all the Moldovan people,” said the head of state. In the same connection, the president of the Supreme Court of Justice Mihai Poalelungi said that the judges’ image in society is bad, but it can be improved. He stressed that the changes made to the legislation will make the judges’ work easier. But, if violations are identified, they risk being dismissed and deprived of judge’s pension. “We all know that the judge’s pension is a privilege. By not paying it, we will educate the judges who break the law,” said Mihai Poalelungi. Head of Parliament Marian Lupu said the autonomy, independence, professionalism and integrity of the judicial power must become a reality. There are preconditions to build a correct and professional legal system on which the rule of law is based. “We must make effort to restore the people’s confidence in the judiciary. If society wants professionalism, it can be guaranteed by creating decent conditions for the judges. The quality implies conditions,” he stated. In the same connection, Prime Minister Vlad Filat said the judges will be made more responsible if their salaries are raised three times so that they are motivated not to break the law. “If we do not change the attitude and approaches, we will be unable to modify the system. The constitutional norm, which clearly stipulates that the powers are separated in the state, envisions cooperation between the powers. But our judges consider that they can take decisions by themselves. Many of their decisions cause considerable damage to the state and affect the image of the judiciary and of the country,” he stated. A recent study shows that half of the persons who go to court give bribe. A judge accepts or asks for bribe four times a month on average. However, no judge has been convicted of corruption since 2001 until now.