A CSM prosecutor seeks answers after magistrates flew on a private jet: “How is it that we see no action from the Judicial Inspection?”

Prosecutor Claudiu Sandu, a member of the Superior Council of Magistracy, is calling for public explanations following reports concerning the private-jet flight taken by CCR judge Cristian Deliorga and the president of the Constanța Tribunal, Marius Cătălin Croitoru, to the Greek island of Mykonos in July.

According to revelations by Newscenter, former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, former Labour Minister Florin Manole, UDMR Senator István-Loránt Antal, and businessman Gruia Stoica, who has a criminal conviction, were also reportedly on the plane. Sandu asks why the Judicial Inspection did not act on its own initiative and whether such relationships could affect perceptions of the magistrates’ impartiality.

“I read, with great surprise, how a judge of the Constitutional Court and the president of the Constanța Tribunal travelled a few weeks ago, by private plane, to the island of Mykonos in Greece. The plane carried only prominent figures from Romania’s political and business life, some with controversial biographies and some even suspected of committing serious criminal acts. And as I was reading the news feed on this subject, I asked myself the following question: how is it that I don’t have friends like that? A wave of questions followed: How is it that serving or former magistrates are lounging around on private planes? And not with just anyone. With controversial or even criminally convicted individuals. How is it that we see no action by the Judicial Inspection against such people? Can magistrates or Constitutional Court judges who share private jets with politicians still be considered impartial? Perhaps if the meeting had taken place on a scheduled or charter flight, I would not have asked myself this question. But on a private flight, where there are only a few participants, can it really be said to be a coincidence?” Claudiu Sandu states in a message posted on Facebook.

The prosecutor says that a private flight with a small group of people cannot easily be considered a mere coincidence. He questions whether other similar trips have taken place and argues that magistrates should avoid any situation that could create the appearance of privileged relationships with politicians or controversial businesspeople.

Claudiu Sandu criticizes the lack of an institutional response and says that, in the past, such information would have led to high-level investigations. At the same time, he argues that the independence and impartiality of the justice system also depend on the public conduct of magistrates.

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PNL calls for public explanations from Florin Manole and Cristian Deliorga about the private flight to Mykonos