Remand in custody for persons targeted in mass riots case
Thirty-day arrest for each of the seven men detained on Saturday in the mass riots case. They are the leaders of criminal groups who were planning mass destabilisation and were to be rewarded with $10,000 each. The decision was taken today by the magistrates of the Ciocana court of Chisinau, Moldova 1 reports.
The seven men were escorted to the courthouse in handcuffs by officers of the National Investigation Inspectorate and employees of the Special Purpose Battalion "Lightning". First before the magistrates was brought the suspect whom the police had previously claimed was an alleged Russian agent, who was going to instruct others how to incite the crowd and turn it against lawmen. He denies accusations that he is preparing provocations at protests organised by the People's Movement, of which the "Șor" party is a member.
Prosecutors say that despite the seven men not admitting guilt, some of them are cooperating with the prosecution. They are under criminal investigation for preparing mass riots, a crime punishable in our country by up to eight years in prison.
On 10 March, law enforcement officers carried out searches in the "mass riots" case. They seized 11,000 US dollars and 400 euros from the figures, allegedly intended for the organisation of mass riots. Police also seized handcuffs, a substance with a specific smell of marijuana, draft notes and communication and information storage devices. The bodies of evidence are to be investigated and the persons concerned by the searches will be summoned for questioning.
