Magistrates approve new Prosecutor-General

The Supreme Council of Magistrates-CSM unanimously approved the naming of Laura Corduta Kovesi as the new Prosecutor-General of Romania, at the proposal of Justice minister Monica Macovei. Kovesi is to replace Ilie Botos who resigned earlier this year and was later named a military prosecutor.

The CSM vote is a consultative one as the only authority allowed to name the prosecutor general is President Traian Basescu.

Kovesi, 33, said during CSM hearings that her aim is to bring more efficiency in the Ministry works and in local Justice units and to have prosecutors focus on specific fields of activity. She also called for improved salaries for prosecutors.

Minister Macovei pushed Kovesi for the job on Monday. Since January 2006, Kovesi has been heading a local branch of the DIICOT, a justice branch focused on combating organized crime and terrorism.

Former Prosecutor General Ilie Botos resigned July 21 following a huge scandal sparked by the disappearance of Romanian-Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam, placed under terrorism charges connected to the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Iraq last year.

HotNews.ro, Sep 27, 2006