The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) has come up with clarifications after more information appeared in the public space regarding the dossier of illegal financing of political parties by fugitive MP Ilan Shor and the undercover involvement of former MP Arina Spătaru.

The anti-corruption institution said Spătaru was only made an undercover investigator after she went to Israel, where she met with Șor.

“The special investigative measures carried out in the criminal case were authorized by the prosecutor and the judge and carried out exclusively on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. We reiterate that no special investigative measures were authorized or carried out on the territory of Israel with the participation of Arina Spătaru. She was assigned the status of undercover investigator after being heard as a witness on the discussions held in Israel with Ilan Shor and other details of the trip.

We assure you that the criminal investigations on this case are carried out within the limits of the criminal procedural law, including with respect to all international obligations,” the PA sent.

Representatives of the Intelligence and Security Service of the Republic of Moldova (SIS ) also issued a statement following public statements “launched by representatives of a political party”.

The Intelligence and Security Service claims to have provided operational support in the criminal case handled by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

“We ensure that criminal investigations on this case are carried out within the limits of criminal procedural law, including with respect for all international obligations. The special investigative measures, carried out within the criminal case, were authorized by the prosecutor and the judge and carried out exclusively on the territory of the Republic of Moldova,” SIS noted.

The Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB) party presented “a series of questions of public interest to the state officials concerned in the so-called undercover operation of Ms Arina Spataru” at a press conference on Tuesday 26 September.

“What is the procedural quality of the individuals involved in this party, those who participated in the negotiations with the criminal Ilan Shor and those who regularly received financial means over the past months? Why was the phone call made at the conference on 22 September still in the possession of the complainant and not attached as evidence to the file handled by the investigating officer, as required by law? If Shor’s money was spent to buy politicians, how many illicit resources were used contrary to electoral legislation, and if the dirty money received from Ilan Shor was not spent on ALDE activities, where is this money? Why did the investigation initiated by the institutions concerned end just when PAS deputies were to be bought, according to the alleged “undercover” person?”, asked CUB President Igor Munteanu.

Arina Spătaru, chairwoman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Moldova), admitted on Friday 22 September that she is a former elected representative of the people who was recruited by Alexandr Nesterovschi, who collaborated with law enforcement officials in the case of illegal party financing. Among other things, she said that Ilan Shor, in direct conversations, confirmed to her “the support he receives from the Russian Federation and his direct role in hijacking Moldova’s pro-European course”.

For the past five months, fugitive ex-deputy Ilan Shor allegedly believed that “Arina Spătaru was bought with his money”.  ALDE party secretary-general Adrian Culai also took part in the undercover operation.

“I, Arina Spătaru, also Victoria Bogatu, undercover agent, am the deputy mentioned yesterday in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova by the acting Prosecutor General, by the head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (…). I have been waiting for this moment since 15 April. To tell you the details of this investigation that will really blow up Moldovan politics,” Spătaru said.

The politician also said that Shor allegedly believed that the ALDE party was made at his behest. She said she had been to Israel to visit Ilan Shor, “in his luxurious villa, and listened to his evil plans”. Spătaru presented a mobile phone allegedly given to her by Șor along with the money.