The bailiffs are a factor of theft and swindle aimed against the citizens, business entities and society. Such a conclusion was reached by members of the Civic Movement “Professionalism and Responsibility for the People” after studying at least 20 public reports of international organizations, the Ministry of Justice, the National Union of Bailiffs and after analyzing the experience and materials presented by people, business entities, company managers and owners to the Movement.
In a news conference at IPN, Gheorghe Costandachi, PRO Movement president, said that during the last two-three weeks alone, over 150 persons who suffered as a result of the actions of bailiffs and chancelleries of local or central courts of law, sought help from the Movement’s members. The research contains synthetized data from the mentioned reports and statements of victims. During the past five years alone, over 15,000 people were done financial damage. All those who had discussions with members of the PRO Movement said they were illegally made to pay sums of money in addition to the tariffs of services provided by bailiffs. According to the Ministry of Justice’s report, 407 cases were recorded in 2018. In these, the bailiffs were fined 300 to 12,000 lei in only 14 enforcement cases. No bailiff was punished criminally.
According to Gheorghe Costandachi, the people are dispossessed of businesses by different schemes. In 2006-2008, over 160 people were forced to abandon their businesses and go abroad. The analysis of the situation shows the system of enforcement of court decisions is like a cudgel against the people. Owing to corruption, those affected do not complain to the law enforcement institutions.
Gheorghe Costandachi related the case of businessman Valentin Gorincioi, who was caused damage of hundreds of thousands of lei due to the defective system of law enforcement. During five years, Valentin Gorincioi hasn’t had access to his own company and to documents related to the company’s activity. The developments started in 2015, when he complained to the Ungheni Prosecutor’s Office that he was being robbed by his business partner. But all his complaints were rejected for the reason that there were no motives for taking legal action. Even if there is a court judgment obliging his partner to furnish him with all the company’s documents, he does not yet have access to them. He provided evidence of tax evasion and money laundering, but the inspectors who went to the scene didn’t find anything. “This is a chain of organized economic crime. A number of complaints about dubious acts were filed to the Prosecutor General’s Office, but these are referred from one institution to another and nothing is done. Today, we and the lawyers filed an application to Mister Stoianoglo (prosecutor general),” stated Gheorghe Costandachi.
PRO Movement vice president Igor Borfotina said the bailiffs who commit abuses are protected by the police, prosecutors and others. “I call on the Ministry of Justice, the National Union of Bailiffs and even the Prosecutor’s Office: Misters, the people can no longer endure. You will bring them to the state when they will start to do themselves justice,” stated Igor Borfotina.
The PRO Movement called upon President Maia Sandu, Parliament, the Government, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the National Anticorruption Center to take note of the crisis faced in the system of law enforcement. “Things should be stopped and those to blame should be held accountable,” said the organization.
