Justice delayed: Moldovan bank raiders convicted but spared jail time
The Chisinau Appellate Court has issued a final conviction against four individuals—three men and one woman—for the fraudulent seizure of equity in a commercial bank valued at over 28 million MDL (approx. €1.42 million).
Between 2010 and 2013, the group targeted shares held by 73 companies and private individuals. Two brothers led the operation, collaborating with a public registrar and a police officer to manipulate records and execute illegal transactions.
Statute of limitations prevents imprisonment
The ruling comes after an eight-year legal battle led by the Prosecutor General’s Office. Despite the conviction, the defendants will not serve prison time as the statute of limitations has lapsed during the prolonged trial.
The court ordered the convicts to pay approximately 2 million MDL (approx. €102,000) in moral and material damages to the victims. This follows a previous acquittal in 2018 which was later overturned by the Supreme Court of Justice.
Financial penalties and asset seizures
One defendant, a former registrar, was fined 47,000 MDL (approx. €2,400) and barred from holding similar positions for two years. The court found this individual guilty of violating laws regarding the management of securities registries.
To ensure the payment of damages, the court maintained the seizure of the defendants' bank accounts, real estate, and personal assets. The decision marks a definitive end to one of the country's most complex equity theft cases from the previous decade.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
