The appeal of the ex-Premier Vlad Filat’s defense against the decision not to release their client from custody was rejected. Lawyer Igor Popa said the decision of the Appeals Court judges is unfounded and illegal, IPN reports.
According to Igor Popa, the former Prime Minister is illegally held at Penitentiary No. 13. The decision to extend the pretrial detention period by 90 days taken on January 5 should be adjusted now that the Constitutional Court ruled that the given period can be extended for at most 30 days.
The lawyer also said that the Appeals Court rejected their application without providing arguments as to the necessity of maintaining the custody. Vlad Filat should be set free by March 1, when a hearing was set to decide a new extension.
In the February 17 hearing, Vlad Filat’s lawyers asked that their client should be investigated outside prison. After several hours of deliberations, the judges of the Buiucani Court rejected the defense’s request. Afterward, the lawyers appealed the decision of the first court.
Vlad Filat was arrested last October on charges of influence peddling and passive corruption. If he is found guilty, he will serve 7 to 15 years behind bars and will be banned from holding particular public posts.
