Three territorial leaders detained in file on illegal financing of political parties, electoral contenders, electoral competition

Chisinau, 10 October /MOLDPRES/ - Three territorial leaders today were detained for 72 hours in the file on illegal financing of political parties, initiative groups, electoral contenders, money laundering, electoral corruption and creation of a crime ring. The detentions took place following searches carried out by investigation officers and anticorruption prosecutors on 8-10 October.    

According to the General Police Inspectorate (IGP), 115 searches were made at district leaders, sector heads and activists in all. Thus, law-enforcers found out that the recipients of the financial means are members of primary territorial organizations of political parties of Moldova, monthly remunerated from shadow sources for activities provided in the context of the forthcoming presidential elections, including in order to prompt the voters to exercise or not exercise their electoral rights at the ballot. Also, the money was provided for participation in  rallies, flash-mobs and protest actions.    

„Within the special investigation measures, more people were documented, who make transfers in roubles through different financial platforms. Subsequently, the activists were remunerated with a half of the sum transferred through the PSB application and the rest of the money was distributed to the heads of the territorial offices for the assistance provided,’’ IGP said.    

Following searches, law-enforcers detected and raised mobile phones. ‘’The PSB application was downloaded and managed in these mobile phones, through which the members of the crime ring, led by convicted Ilan Shor, were receiving money transfers on the purpose of exercising or non-exercising the electoral rights at the presidential elections or the republican referendum, as well as for the fulfillment of certain instructions,’’ IGP noted.    

Also, financial means were found, including Moldovan lei, Russian roubles, euros, dollars, British pounds, MIR bank cards – belonging to different people, bank cards PYYPL, Sberbank cards;  electoral folders and clothing, without origin acts; phones, tablets, note-books; 18 cartridges from the Kalashnikov rifles of the 7.62 calibre; cartridges of the 12 calibre; rough copies relevant for the criminal file.   

The criminal prosecution body said it would continue the prosecution actions, to establish all circumstance of the cause.