Ciochină case hearing: Court rejects defense request for new forensic examination
Nicanor Ciochină, the former mayor of Boldureşti commune, attended a court hearing on Friday after receiving warnings from magistrates regarding his unexcused absences. Accompanied by two lawyers, Ciochină requested a new expert examination, asserting his innocence in the accident that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy last year. For nearly two years, the victim's mother has been seeking justice.
At the last hearing, the court revoked the former mayor of Boldurești's right to present defense witnesses after he failed to ensure the attendance of those summoned. Now, the defendant has submitted video footage and photographs that he claims demonstrate attempts to fabricate the case against him.
"Do you understand that this is a fabricated case? Five pieces of plastic were recovered from Boldurești while seven were submitted for expert examination. Who added the additional five pieces? The plastic shard, if it truly originated from Boldurești, should not have been visible because it was supposed to be sealed at the time of the investigation at the scene," argues Nicanor Ciochină.
"The goal is to establish with certainty whether the envelopes containing the plastic fragments were tampered with before being presented to the experts for examination. This manipulation links Ciochină Nicanor to the accident in Boldurești, even though he has no connection to it," states lawyer Dumitru Buliga.
After reviewing the evidence presented by the defense, the court denied the request for a new examination.
"Regarding the tracking expertise, as I mentioned in court, the conditions have not been met to request this expertise again. We already have an existing tracking expertise for the materials in question," notes prosecutor Alexandru Botnari.
Raisa Ciurel, the mother of the teenager who died as a result of the accident, attends every court hearing and voices her concerns about the delays in the trial.
"It’s a strategy to delay the hearings and continue mocking me. Winter is coming. They had everything set in November after lunch, and here I am, freezing for a whole day," says Raisa Ciurel.
The next court hearing in the case of Nicanor Ciochină is scheduled for November 28.
The road accident occurred on February 19, 2024, in Boldurești, Nisporeni district. A local city hall service vehicle, driven by Nicanor Ciochină, allegedly struck and killed a 14-year-old boy, Mihăiță Beșliu. Prosecutors claim that the former mayor left the scene of the accident without informing the authorities or providing assistance to the victim.
Investigators allege that Ciochină later attempted to mislead law enforcement by staging another collision in the town of Codru in Chisinau municipality, using the same damaged vehicle and altered license plates. His accomplice, Ion Andronache, has also been detained and is accused of aiding the crime.
Ciochină denies the charges and does not plead guilty.
The case reached the court in June 2024 and is being examined at the Chisinau Court in Buiucani. The trial has experienced numerous delays, with over 20 out of approximately 50 scheduled sessions postponed due to the absence of witnesses, lawyers, or the defendant.
