Prime Minister Victor Ponta has told Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc, at the beginning of the Government meeting on Wednesday, that if the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) will have no reaction to the case of Vaslui, he’d better resign.
The statement was made by the Prime Minister at the beginning of the Government meeting, after he expressed outrage on how the judicial authorities acted in the case of the girl raped in Vaslui.
“For years we say that justice must punish everyone equally, but especially those who commit murders, rapes, robberies. For years we watch the TV political battles being carried out with the judiciary and yet, if the press had not informed about what happened in Vaslui, dangerous criminals were to stay at home and we should be happy to see MPs or senators taken into custody. I want to ask you, Mr. Minister of Justice to exercise all authority within the CSM and, if CSM will not take any action, you’d better resign, as someone must draw an alarm signal about what happens every day in Romania,” Ponta told the ministers, but with direct reference to Robert Cazanciuc.
Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc said on Tuesday, referring to the seven young men accused of rape in Vaslui and released from custody by a decision of the judges, that “justice is done in the courtroom and that’s it” and that Judicial Inspection results should be expected in this case. Asked what he thought about the reaction of public opinion regarding this case, Cazanciuc said it is “prudent” to wait for the conclusions of the Judicial Inspection.
Referring to the young girl who reported the abuses, he said: “We can send sympathy for the situation she faced, but speaking of guilt, I think we need to await the outcome of the trial.”
He added: “I would most certainly resign if this helps carrying out the act of justice.”
Seven young people aged between 18 and 27, from the locality of V?leni, Vaslui County, are judged, under judicial control, after allegedly kidnapped and raped for several hours in November 2014, a student of 18, who later was transported to the hospital. According to investigators, the teenager was sexually assaulted twice in the same evening by the seven young people.
Initially apprehended by the police, the seven youths were taken into custody of Vaslui Court three days after the rape. In early April, the same court decided to release on all seven and place them under house arrest. On June 19, the Vaslui Court replaced house arrest by judicial control.
The seven were indicted in December 2014 for rape and deprivation of liberty, and the next term will be held August 14 at Vaslui Court. The seven youngsters from Vaslui are required to submit daily to the police, the measure being disposed on Tuesday by the Vaslui county police leadership, following media coverage of the case.
On June 23, following a complaint made by the Association for Implementing Democracy (AID), the Superior Council of Magistracy noticed the Judicial Inspection to check the release from custody of the seven young people.
On June 25, several NGOs and associations that promote the prevention and combating of sexual violence have asked the Ministry of Justice and the Presidency to involve in the case, after the perpetrators were set free by the court. In this regard, the network “We break the silence about sexual violence”, which includes 15 associations, groups and NGOs, sent an open letter to the two state institutions entitled “Do not forget the rights of victims”.