JusMin Toader: I will not notify Judiciary Inspectorate; I have DNA activity report ready

Justice Minister Tudorel Toader says he will not notify the Judiciary Inspectorate (IJ) about allegations concerning the activity of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), pointing out that he already has a report on this institution that he can present at any time.

"I will not notify the Judiciary Inspectorate. I believe that at this time notifying the IJ is no longer required because, if you might have noticed, we would extend that for a long time, because we would have to wait for the outcome, for the results of the IJ inspection ... (...) Consequently, I will not notify the IJ (...) the report on the activity of DNA is prepared and I can present it at any time; then, there is the other option, as I was saying, to present a summary of the activity reports on the Public Prosecution, [the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorim] DIICOT to the plenary session of Parliament. I will return to the country and see what is the most recommended and complete option on the one hand and fast on the other hand. (...) It does not make sense to wait for IJ to tell us what? To confirm for the umpteenth time what we actually know, and on the other hand to extend the deadline for solving the issue we are discussing," Toader told Antena 3 private broadcaster on Monday.

He said there was no pressure on him on this subject, showing that many things have come to light.

"You can rest assured that there are not pressures on me in this sense. (...) If things are the way they are, it is very good for people, the Romanians, to know the real way criminal investigation is sometimes conducted, as the Romanians can see whether or not what the Constitution says is being followed related to the presumption of innocence," said Toader.

Asked if his report proposes the measure of dismissing Laura Codruta Kovesi from the office of the DNA chief prosecutor, he said his report would put forth a measure.

"Even if some time has passed, even if some have said that I should have taken a quicker stand, I appreciate the contribution of all those in the media and the private sector, whether they are witnesses, former defendants, or Romanians, because they have all contributed to brining the things to the light (...) My report will surely set forth a measure," said Toader. AGERPRES (RO - author: Anamaria Toma, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)