The High Court for Cassation and Justice opened the case by discussing the legality of the indictment. Prime Minister Victor Ponta wasn't required to attend the session and didn't appear. The next hearing will be on Oct. 23.
Prosecutors first named Ponta a suspect on June 5 and he was indicted in July on charges, including tax evasion, money laundering, conflict of interest and making false statements while he was working as a lawyer in 2007 and 2008. At the time, Ponta was a lawmaker.
