Requests for waiver of immunity of two MPs and searches of others in criminal cases involving illegal funding of political parties
The Intelligence and Security Service together with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the National Anti-Corruption Centre today raided more than 20 locations in Chisinau, Balti, Singerei and Edinet, as well as 9 cars. In the course of the prosecution, documents and goods of interest to the criminal case were found and seized: mobile phones, computers, draft documents and other documents. Money in the amount of 189,200 lei, 25,415 euros, 2,430 dollars and 4,500 Swiss francs was also seized.
So far, one person has been detained and charged with the offences of financing political parties, initiative groups or electoral contestants from sources prohibited by law and money laundering, offences under Articles 1813 and 243 of the Criminal Code.
We mention that criminal investigations on these cases are carried out within the limits of the criminal procedural legislation, respecting all the rights and freedoms of the prosecuted persons, ensuring the principle of presumption of innocence, confidentiality of criminal proceedings, respect for privacy and personal data.
We reiterate that a person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.
We recall that today, 21 September 2023, 5 requests were submitted to the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, by which the Acting Prosecutor General requested the lifting of parliamentary immunity, with a view to the arrest, detention, search and criminal prosecution of MP Alexandr Nesterovschi for committing the offences of passive bribery, preparing the financing of a political party from sources prohibited by law and accepting the financing of a political party from an organised criminal group (offences under Art. 324 para. (3) (a), 1813, 1812 para. (5) of the Criminal Code) and of Irina Lozovan, MP, for the commission of the offences of acceptance of financing of a political party from an organised criminal group and money laundering committed by an organised criminal group on a particularly large scale (offences under Art. 1812 para. (5), 243 (3) (a) and (b) of the Criminal Code).
