Two former Court leaders clarify ginancial and ethical integrity concerns in public hearings

Panel C of the Judicial Vetting Commission today heard Judge Mihail Bușuleac, former interim president and vice-president of Cahul Court, and Judge Ion Rusu, former vice-president and interim vice-president of Drochia Court. The hearings addressed both the financial situations of the two judges—specifically potential discrepancies between income and expenses during the evaluation period—and questions related to ethical integrity.

Judge Mihail Bușuleac’s hearing lasted over three hours. Members of Panel C—Andrei Bivol, Willem Brouwer, and Lavly Perling—sought clarifications regarding cash savings, both those declared prior to the evaluation and those declared as accumulated during the evaluation period. Discrepancies between income and expenses were examined across multiple periods: 2013, 2016–2017, and 2023–2024, as well as the sources used to cover certain expenses in 2025, including vacation costs. The discussion also covered donations and other financial inflows considered insufficiently justified, along with two situations identified as potential conflicts of interest relevant to the assessment of ethical integrity.

Judge Ion Rusu’s hearing included a closed session at his request, a measure approved by the Panel. During the public portion, the Panel examined a potential discrepancy between income and expenses preliminarily identified during the evaluation period. The circumstances surrounding the purchase of a vehicle and a potential incompatibility between holding judicial office and a lawyer’s license were also discussed, as well as compliance with legal provisions regarding conflicts of interest. In his closing statement, Judge Rusu expressed respect for all colleagues who chose to participate in the external integrity evaluation process, regardless of its outcome.

Recordings of today’s hearings will be made public within three days. Within 30 days, the Commission will issue reasoned reports for each magistrate, detailing conclusions on whether the evaluation was successfully passed.

On Friday, December 12, judges Roman Pascari, a candidate for the Central Court of Appeal, and Vasile Nogai, former interim president of Drochia Court, are scheduled for hearings.

We remind that judges who currently hold, or have held, leadership positions in the past five years are subject to the external evaluation (vetting) procedure.

‍