President Nicolae Timofti on March 5 issued a decree to discharge Sergiu Balaban from the post of judge of the Hancesti District Court, who was sentenced for abuse of power and for passing an illegal judgment, IPN reports.

In September 2012, by a decision of the Supreme Council of Magistrates, Sergiu Balaban was suspended from post. Legal action was taken against the judge for passing judgment without holding the hearing and questioning the sides.

On July 12, 2013, the Buiucani District Court fined the judge 8,000 lei and banned him from holding particular posts for a period of five years. The Prosecutor General’s Office challenged the decision of the first court in the Appeals Court, considering it too mild. But this decision was upheld. The Supreme Court of Justice also upheld the decision of the first court.

Judges of the Bender Appeals Court Mihail Antonov, Grigore Drugus and Aurelia Parpalac were also dismissed from posts by presidential decree.