Igor Dodon case reassigned, Supreme Court of Justice
The case against former President Igor Dodon will be assigned to a different judge after the temporary transfer of the judge originally handling the case ends, according to the Supreme Court of Justice.
According to the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), the procedure for redistributing the case is necessary because the temporary transfer of the judge is limited in duration. Once this period ends, the case cannot proceed with the same composition of judges.
The SCJ states, "It is objectively and inevitably necessary to apply the legal mechanisms for random redistribution of the case. This measure is directly derived from the provisions of the regulatory framework that governs the judicial organization and the functioning of the courts, as well as from the fundamental principles of a fair trial."
The institution emphasizes that it will be impossible to maintain the judge in question in the panel. The case will be redistributed through the Integrated Case Management Program, which will be done automatically and randomly in the shortest possible time. According to the Supreme Court of Justice, this process excludes any internal or external interference in the distribution of the case.
We remind you that, under Article 31 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the replacement of a judge on the panel does not automatically restart the examination of the case. This provision allows the trial to continue without starting over.
Additionally, we would like to highlight that Igor Dodon, the former President of the Republic of Moldova and leader of the Party of Socialists, is the subject of a case commonly referred to as the "kuliok" (black bag). He is accused of passive corruption and accepting illegal financing for his party.
The case is based on a video recording from June 2019, captured using hidden cameras placed in four umbrellas. In this recording, former Democratic leader Vladimir Plahotniuc is seen handing Igor Dodon a black bag, which prosecutors allege contained between 600,000 and one million dollars. This amount was purportedly intended to fund the Party of Socialists' illegal activities in exchange for forming a government coalition with the Democratic Party.
Igor Dodon denies the charges and does not plead guilty.
If found guilty of passive corruption and accepting illegal funding for his party, the former head of state could face up to 20 years in prison.
