The Iași Court of Appeal ordered on Friday the removal of evidence consisting of recordings made using technical devices from the case of the former president of Vaslui County Council, Dumitru Buzatu, accused of bribery.
The court ruled that the indictment by DNA prosecutors was drawn up illegally, so they annulled the decision of the Vaslui Tribunal regarding the start of the trial, according to Agerpres. DNA prosecutors have five days to redo the indictment.
At the end of April, the Vaslui Tribunal ordered the removal of certain recordings from the case of the former president of CJ Dumitru Buzatu. These recordings involved discussions between the PSD baron and two witnesses, Iulian Birzu and Emil Savin, also known as Farmazon, who reported Buzatu to the DNA.
Now, however, the Iași Court of Appeal has decided to remove all recordings made during the investigation.
Additionally, the Iași Court of Appeal dismissed Dumitru Buzatu's request regarding the alleged incompatibility of the judge from the preliminary chamber of the Vaslui Tribunal, invoked in the appeal, and upheld the request made by the defendant Judele Radu regarding the illegality of certain evidence administration during the criminal investigation.
A new trial date has been set for November 15, when it will be decided whether the case will be sent back to DNA.
On April 17, the Iași Court of Appeal definitively decided to place former PSD leader Vaslui, Dumitru Buzatu, under house arrest, accused of bribery and remanded in custody in September last year. Subsequently, Buzatu was placed under judicial control.
According to investigators, Buzatu was caught red-handed by anti-corruption prosecutors while receiving 1.25 million lei as a bribe to favor a company in obtaining a contract.
The money was found by investigators in the trunk of his car after the former president of Vaslui County Council allegedly received it in a restaurant.