Vice-president of Shor political party, unofficial member of formation to be tried for party's illegal financing

The vice president of the Shor political party and an unofficial member of the party will be tried for the party’s illegal financing. The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) announces the completion of the criminal investigation and the submission of the case to the court.

According to the PA, the party’s vice president is accused of knowingly accepting the financing of the political party by an organized criminal group, in a continuous form.

Thus, between January and July 2022, he, in complicity with other party members and in coordination with Ilan Shor, allegedly accepted and directed the receipt of 10,429,000 lei originating from Ilan Shor’s criminal activities and from other sources got in violation of the law.

As the person responsible for coordinating the party’s territorial organizations, he allegedly contributed to the use of the money for the illegal financing of the party’s activities, including for the payment of unofficial salaries, rent and maintenance of party offices, as well as remuneration of people mobilized for protests.

The unofficial member of the party is accused of financing the political party from sources prohibited by law, in large proportions, in a continuous form.

Investigations show that, between April and December 2022, acting together with Ilan Shor and other persons, he allegedly financed the Sho political party with 125,394,482.78 lei, money originating from sources prohibited by law.

Through party members, he allegedly ensured, among other things, the recruitment, transportation and remuneration of participants in protests, the payment of unofficial salaries to members and activists, as well as the payment of rent and maintenance expenses for the offices of territorial organizations.

The defendants have not admitted their guilt. The criminal case has been sent for  examination on the merits to the Chisinau Court, Buiucani seat.

For the alleged offence, the vice president of the Shor political party faces a fine ranging from 57,500 to 92,500 lei or imprisonment from 2 to 7 years, with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to engage in certain activities for a period from 2 to 5 years.

The unofficial member of the party faces a fine ranging from 42,500 to 67,500 lei or imprisonment from 3 to 5 years.

To guarantee the payment of the fine and any potential special confiscation, the defendants’ assets have been identified and seized in a total amount of about 13.7 million lei.