2nd September: A new lawyer for Florentina & Dima goes to court

Good morning, everyone. News on the Florentina defence front: Maitre Corneliu-Liviu Popescu defended Florentina yesterday in a hearing to over-rule the decision for her preventive arrest as investigations remain ongoing. Maitre Popescu's intervention was punctual and his defence was exceptional. The evidence of a botched job was presented, the formal complaint laid out - forgery of Iacob's first statement, the violation of Florentina's rights by the police, etc, etc - the complete report can be seen here on this site... The appeal was not successful, though legally, I cannot understand how it failed - of course, on another level, we can understand why very well.

Maitre Corneliu-Liviu Popescu specialises in the European Law of Human Rights and not penal law. Since Florentina needs a penal lawyer, she is now defended by his colleague Maitre Ioana Soldea. Maitre Popescu has said, however, that he remains at Florentina's disposition 'pro bono' should she need help or advice concerning the respect of human rights or for a retrial in front of the European Court of Human Rights. It is a comfort to know that she has this support, this possibility, but let's hope that it won't be necessary.

An article has been published HERE on the complaint filed, formulated and signed by Maitre Popescu himself against the prosecutor and the police which can also be seen HERE (you'll need Adobe) as an entire document.

(Photo: Adevarul) Vasile Dima appeared in court again today. We hear that the last inspection on the a/c system was made on July 13th but that he had called the company the day before the fire (how convenient) as it wasn't working properly. He said that he had not been able to retire because there was no one to replace him and added that he was obliged to keep working as vacant posts in the health service were blocked.

"For 32 years, I was alone, alone, alone," he said, "I took everything on by myself with no help. Slowly all the baskets were piled on my head." My heart bleeds....

The lawyers of the Bucharest Tribunal asked that he be left free as he was old (68 isn't old!) and seriously ill (all of a sudden, in which case how could he have worked up until last Monday and why isn't he in hospital as I type this post?) and, furthermore, the prosecution had so far not proven that the tragedy at Giulesti was his fault. Whaaaaaat???

The prosecutor argued that he be placed under preventive arrest since as head of technical services and maintenance, he was the only one responsible for checking the electrical systems on the ITU along with training staff in the evacuation process. The prosecutor showed that Dima had been negligent and that professional negligence had had very serious consequences leading to the death of five babies dying and six seriously injured. He said that Dima had taken no measures to prevent a fire despite being the civy fire chief for the department. Had staff been trained in the evacuation process, there would have been more chance of escape.

The hearing lasted over half an hour and right now, the court is still out on the question of whether he may stay free or be thrown in jail.

The prosecutor said the court had treated Dima in almost eulogistic terms, stressing his seniority, the absence of any previous criminal record, a cooperative attitude during the investigation, home stability and they showed compassion for his health which was backed up with documentation. The court practically swept away the seriousness of his negligence and what that negligence resulted in. 

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