Section for Magistrates' Investigation:Accreditation of idea that prosecutors act as 'a firing squad' - a dangerous pressure

The Special Section for Magistrates' Investigation argues that the speculations that surfaced in the press regarding the political influences regarding the case opened on the name of Laura Codruta Koves "represent serious and totally unfounded attacks" and the accreditation of the idea that the section takes action as "a firing squad" has "an extremely dangerous pressure" over prosecutors.

The Section for Magistrates' Investigation issued on Thursday a press release as a response to the statements surfacing the public space regarding the case opened on the name of the former chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA).

"Regarding the statements launched in the public space on 13 and 14 February 2019, by many online publications, television stations and political factors, through which speculations and political associations are made regarding the activity of the Section for investigating crimes in Justice, in the context of subpoenaing a person as a suspect in a case pending before the Section, the leadership of this structure draws attention over the danger created by such serious and totally unfounded attacks to the independence of prosecutors who carry out their activity with professionalism and objectivity within the Section. The accreditation of the idea that the prosecutors within the Section for investigating crimes in Justice act as 'a firing squad' and that this Section 'proves to be a bat in the hands of the political power' represents an unprecedented insult and an extremely dangerous pressure over the magistrates involved in conducting the ongoing judicial proceedings," the quoted source mentions.

According to the release, the Section was established as a guarantee of the independence of magistrates and any attempt of intimidation represents inappropriate pressures and interferences in the work of prosecutors.

"We mention loud and clear that the prosecutors within the Section for investigating crimes in Justice always proceed appropriately to the law enforcement, regardless of the capacity of the targeted person, of the criminal cases handled, ensuring the observance of their procedural rights, including the presumption of innocence, the setting up of this structure being precisely a guarantee of the independence of magistrates and not a repression instrument over them, as tendentiously and unfoundedly certain voices state in the public space. We draw attention to the fact that any attempt to intimidate prosecutors in their activity represent inappropriate pressures and interferences in the criminal procedural activity and, in this respect, we call on all representatives of the political parties and opinion-makers to adopt a decent and reserved attitude, because the freedom of speech must be kept within the reasonable limits of a moderate and balanced public discourse," the quoted source conveyed.

Former DNA chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi announced that she was subpoenaed on Friday by the Section for investigating crimes in Justice, in a case where she is considered to be a suspect for the following offenses: abuse of office, bribe taking and false testimony.

The case regards the return to the country of former FNI Director Nicolae Popa, with the investigations in this case being opened following a denunciation filed by former deputy Sebastian Ghita. AGERPRES (RO - author: Eusebi Manolache, editor: Claudia Stanescu; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)