Prosecutors seek six-year prison sentence for former PM in Chisinau airport's concession case

Prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison sentence for former Prime Minister Iurie Leanca in the case concerning the concession of the Chisinau International Airport. The request was made by prosecutors today, during a court hearing at which judicial debates on the case started.

The same six-year prison sentence is being sought for former Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar, former director general of the Public Property Agency (APP), Tudor Copaci, the former deputy director of APP, Angela Susanu and the former director of Chisinau International Airport, Petru Jardan.

For Maria Șendilă, the former deputy head of the Public Property Administration Directorate at the APP, the prosecution requested a five-year prison sentence. Six years are also being sought for the airport’s former financial director, Alexandru Ciutac, and the head of the airport’s Economic Analysis Service, Alla Tubari.

The case is being heard by the Chisinau District Court, and the judicial debates represent one of the final stages of the case’s examination.

According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA), the case concerning the concession of Chisinau International Airport was sent to court in May 2023. Prosecutors claim that, as a result of the defendants’ actions, damages amounting to more than 392 million lei were inflicted to the state.

The prosecution alleges that, in 2013, the airport was concessioned in the interest of a criminal organization. Prosecutors say that, during the procedure, the share of the profit allocated to the state was allegedly reduced from 8 to 1 per cent, while the tender for the airport’s concession was allegedly organized as a mere formality.

The prosecutors’ requests will be examined by the court. Until a final ruling is issued, the defendants benefit from the presumption of innocence.