More than 200 prosecutors and judges, including several retirees, signed on Thursday a message of support for the magistrates who had the courage to speak out in the Recorder investigation about serious problems in the justice system.
'We, the undersigned judges and prosecutors, taking into account the anticipated repercussions for our colleagues Laurentiu Besu and Raluca Morosanu as well as the contradictory messages published by the Section for Judges and the Section for Prosecutors, make the following clarifications. We publicly express our solidarity with the magistrates who had the courage to point out the problems and pressures within the justice system. Truth and integrity must not be punished but protected. Silence is not an option when the values of the profession are at risk. We also stress that the issues raised by the colleagues mentioned above are not isolated. Deep and systemic dysfunctions persist and acknowledging them is essential. Justice needs not only courage but also genuine, honest reform in order to remain free, fair and credible in the service of the citizen,' reads a post shared on Facebook by prosecutor Alexandra Lancranjan, who investigated Liviu Dragnea in the 'Tel Drum' case.
The message of support is signed by judges and prosecutors from across the country, including from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), the General Prosecutor's Office, courts of appeal, tribunals and district courts, as well as from military courts.
The Recorder documentary features several prosecutors and judges, some with protected identities, who reveal how the leadership of the Bucharest Court of Appeal routinely replaced judges on panels to obtain favourable decisions for individuals accused of corruption. Among the cases examined are those of Marian Vanghelie, Cristian Burci and Puiu Popoviciu.
Judge Laurentiu Besu reveals serious misconduct at the Bucharest Court of Appeal where he worked for a period after being temporarily transferred from the Giurgiu Tribunal. Besu says his new colleagues told him he had been moved because it was no longer desired for him to remain on the panel judging the case of doctor Mircea Beuran, who was accused of corruption.
Besu's statements were confirmed by a judge who intervened during the press conference held on Thursday by the leadership of the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
'My name is Raluca Morosanu. I am a judge at the First Criminal Division of the Bucharest Court of Appeal. I have 26 years of judicial service, 19 of which at the Bucharest Court of Appeal. I came here to support my colleague Laurentiu Besu and to say that everything he said there is true. If he is contradicted, it is a lie. Here at the Bucharest Court of Appeal we work very hard. The leadership does not help us in any way. We are simply terrorised with disciplinary actions and everything you know is happening to us. I do not want to describe the atmosphere or the toxic and tense situation we are in. Some of my colleagues agree with me, I do not know what the others will do, here are some who will probably support the leadership. As an aside, I have never been a covert officer nor part of Doi si un sfert' or anywhere else. I have been a magistrate all my life. Colleagues across the country know me because I have also worked as a trainer at the National Institute of Magistracy and at the National School of Clerks for almost 15 years. They will know I am not lying. If they do not believe my colleague Laurentiu, they should at least believe me. That is all I could say,' the magistrate said at the start of the conference.
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