Justice Minister starts disciplinary procedures against two judges

Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim has order the commencement of disciplinary proceedings against two judges, Maria Chiperi and Veronica Nichitenco, for having caused €27,000 losses to the City Hall and City Council of Causeni, reports Info-Prim Neo. The Ministry notes on its website that through a ruling in 2009 of Anenii Noi judge Maria Chiperi the City Hall and Council of Causeni were supposed to provide residence space to her Causeni colleague, Veronica Nichitenco. Consequently, in February 2011, at the order of the court enforcement officer, Maria Chiperi changed the implementation method of the ruling and ordered the payment of €27,000, the appraisal value of the flat. According to the Ministry, the court could not force the local authorities to pay the cost of a state-sponsored residence, because Veronica Nichitenco has been a judge since 2006, whereas the legal norms applied in the order stipulate that she could not claim property of the apartment until after 10 years in service. The Minister of Justice believes that Maria Chiperi failed to be impartial and breached the imperative norms of the legislation, and Veronica Nichitenco acted in bad faith, ignoring the judges’ Code of Ethics. The paperwork was forwarded to the Disciplinary Panel of the Superior Council of Magistracy. The Ministry also notified the Prosecutor General’s Office, requesting it to check whether the judges’ and accomplices’ actions have traits that fall under the jurisdiction of Criminal Law. Previously, two other judges, Iurie Silarin and Aurelia Parpalac were also accused of similar actions. Their files are still being examined.