By the sentence of the Chisinau Court, Buiucani office, of 25 September 2023, a 20-year-old man was found guilty of committing the crime of fraud committed by an organized criminal group (Article 190 paragraph (4) of the Criminal Code), and was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment.

The court also decided that the execution of the prison sentence should be conditionally suspended for a probation period of 4 years.

Prosecutors from the Chisinau City Prosecutor’s Office consider the sentence imposed as too lenient and will appeal the sentence to the Chisinau Court of Appeal.

According to the indictment, on June 12, 2023, the accused, together with other members of the criminal group, whose role and identity are still being established, telephoned the first injured party, who was at his home in mun. Chisinau and, presenting themselves as representatives of the law enforcement authorities, misled her under the invented pretext that the woman’s close relative had caused a road accident, as a result of which a person had suffered, and in order to pay for medical services and cover up the case, they demanded and appropriated from her 5000 lei and 1400 euros.

On the same day, he and other members of the criminal group, whose role and identity are still being established, obtained from two other women, through the same criminal scheme, financial means amounting to more than 200 000 lei.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the offence of which he was accused, and the case against him is being examined under a simplified procedure.

The sentence is not final and may be appealed within 15 days to the Chisinau Court of Appeal.

Note: The person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.