Today, on 09.07.2024, at 10:00, the Appeal Chamber held the public hearing of case (JR) 19/2023, dated 18.05.2023, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner against decision no. 632, dated 08.03.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission, related to the assessee Laurent Fuçia.
During the submission of the appeal grounds, the Public Commissioner stated that the assessee shows deficiencies in terms of the proficiency criteria, as he has interpreted incorrectly the criminal and civil procedural law, and delivered decisions unsupported on law and evidence that casts doubt on his integrity. Finding that these identified shortcomings cannot be remedied by training programs, the Public Commissioner requested the Chamber the amendment of decision no. 632, dated 08.03.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission and the dismissal from office of the assessee Laurent Fuçia.
The assessee objected the Public Commissioner’s appeal grounds as unsubstantiated on law and evidence, and submitted an overview on his overall proficiency assessment, in support of which he filed several new acts, which he requested the trial panel to accept them in the capacity of evidence. The assessee held that he reaches the qualifying level in the proficiency assessment and requested the Chamber the upholding of decision no. 632, dated 08.03.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission.
The trial panel decided to open the judicial investigation and administer as evidence some of the documents filed by the assessee, maintaining that the other documents could be accessed from open sources of information.
Asked by the presiding judge if he needed additional time to take a stand regarding the new evidence, the Public Commissioner stated that he needed no additional time, as long as it was not related to the appeal grounds.
Once the parties declared that they had no further procedural requests, the trial panel decided to close the judicial investigation of the case and invited them to submit their final conclusions.
The Public Commissioner requested that the submissions presented in the hearing be considered as final conclusion, standing by his final request. The assessee as well stood by his objections and his request for the upholding of decision no. 632, dated 08.03.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission.
The trial panel, after hearing the final requests of the parties, withdrew in chambers to make the final decision, to be announced on 25.07.2024, at 15:00.
The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.