Pre-Vetting Commission Member Caught Up in Scandal over ICC Reforms

According to an investigation by the news portal Anticoruptie, Hermann von Hebel worked from 8 March 2013 to 16 April 2018 as a secretary of the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC). In 2018, the Dutch press wrote that the International Criminal Court suffered damages of at least €760,000. In addition, several decisions considered illegal were issued due to the reform initiated by Hermann von Hebel at the Court, subsequently heavily criticized by the judges. The journalistic investigation notes that the High Court of Justice incurred €7 million in reform costs, and the court’s judges accused von Hebel of hidden agendas. “If I could collect all the knives stuck in my back after these reforms, I could open a restaurant,” was Hebel’s response to criticism of the reform he initiated. Judge Ion Chirtoaca, a candidate for the position of member of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM), was re-heard on 13 March, before the Pre-Vetting Commission. His parents were also questioned to clarify the doubts of the commission members about the financial and ethical integrity of candidate Chirtoaca. The questions concerned salaries received in Italy, bank deposits opened in Moldova, a flat in Chisinau, and other topics. Hermann von Hebel is also the commission member.