Prosecutor’s Office voices concern over criminal law amendments, mentions Constitutional Court referral

The General Prosecutor’s Office, also known as the Public Ministry, voiced its concern on Tuesday over the latest amendments carried out on the criminal codes, slamming the fact that the MPs have disregarded the proposals and notes advanced by the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) and by the judges and prosecutors associations and had not held any previous debate before voting them. The Prosecutor’s Office informed that it will analyse the constitutional challenges that might be filed against the criminal laws.

„There is an ongoing assessment within the Public Ministry to review all constitutional challenges on the amended criminal legislation, which will be submitted to those who are entitled to notify the Constitutional Court,” the Public Ministry says.

In her turn, Raluca Pruna, former Justice minister in the Ciolos Cabinet, also opined that the amendments on the criminal codes might turn Romania in a paradise of offenders, where criminal prosecution might not be easily started, including in the case of some serious crimes, such as manslaughter or rape.

„The amendments help those who have ongoing  criminal files, people with high-ranking positions, who use the Parliament like a legislative boutique, where they are giving orders to the shop boys and the boys are obeying those orders,” Pruna argued.

„What happened with the criminal procedure code is turning Romania into a heaven of criminals. We’ll become a paradise where all kind of mafia gangs are invited to come to Romania, and whose country brand will be to defend criminals,” she added.

The Chamber of Deputies adopted late on Monday the draft law on the Criminal Procedure Code, whereby prosecutors will be prohibited from giving information during criminal prosecution, on the same day the committee on the laws of justice gave a favourable opinion to this initiative.

The draft law amending and supplementing Law no.135 / 2010 on the Criminal Procedure Code was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies by 175 votes in favour, 78 votes against and one abstention.

USR Chairman, Dan Barna, said on Monday that USR will challenge the bill to the Constitutional Court (CCR), arguing that Romania is as of today, officially, a state of offenders.

PNL will also refer to the Constitutional Court the draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Liberal Deputies’ leader Raluca Turcan said on Monday before the final vote on the initiative.