The Superior Council of Magistracy on December 13 accepted the resignations from the posts of judges of the Supreme Court of Justice handed over by Oleg Sternioală and Ion Druță. The latter also served as the president of the Court, IPN reports.

Seven members of the SCM voted in favor of the two decisions that are to be approved by Parliament. The decisions can be challenged in the Chisinau City Appeals Court within 30 days.

The SCM also announced contests to fill all the vacancies in the judicial system, including eight vacant posts at the Supreme Court of Justice and four at the Chisinau City Appeals Court.

Ion Druță was arrested at the start of this October and is now under judicial control. He is investigated for unjust enrichment and had property to the value of 12.8 million lei confiscated.

Oleg Sternioală was arrested on November 4 over money laundering in considerable amounts, but was freed in the courtroom. The judges rejected the prosecutors’ request to place him under arrest for 30 days. The decision was appealed by anticorruption prosecutors as unfounded. Earlier this week, the Superior Council of Magistracy partially accepted the request made by former acting prosecutor general Dumitru Robu concerning the issuing of a warrant for the detention, forced bringing and searching of the judge of the Supreme Court of Justice Oleg Sternioală. Alos, the SCM authorized the searching and forced brining of Oleg Sternioală for unjust enrichment.