National Police Chief Viorel Cernăuțeanu, Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office Chief Veronica Dragalin and National Anti-Corruption Centre (NAC) Deputy Director Alexandr Pînzari held a press briefing on Thursday (5 October) on the documentation of a new form of money laundering carried out by exponents of a “criminal group” to finance political parties.

According to the Moldovan Police, it was established that a new form of financing political parties was implemented, which consists of excluding the operation with financial sources in cash and creating a new mechanism through PYYPL cards and digital technologies.

Thus, at the beginning of September, according to law enforcement authorities, three persons (two of foreign origin and one citizen of Moldova) intended to bring into the country more than 1975 bank cards. They were to be distributed to key members of newly created political parties affiliated to the former Shor party.

On Wednesday, 4 October, law enforcement officials raided the premises of two political parties that came to public attention in the context of the declaration of the Shor party as unconstitutional. The Renaissance and Chance parties announced the measures that were carried out throughout the country in press releases. The Renaissance party has been subject to raids before, but this is the first time that members of the Chance party have been targeted.

NAC Deputy Director Alexandr Pînzari: “(…) Yesterday, more than 70 raids were carried out throughout the country in several localities, where evidence was documented and taken for receiving and financing political parties in order to favour certain parties. At the moment, the actions are ongoing (…).

The head of the IGP, Viorel Cernăuțeanu: “(…) For some time now, a new method of financing and transmitting financial sources to some exponents of certain groups has been in the attention of law enforcement bodies (…). The first action or measure was at the beginning of September, when on the territory of the Republic of Moldova appeared the intention to introduce by three citizens (two of foreign origin and one citizen of the Republic of Moldova), more than 1975 bank cards that were intended to be used for the purpose of transferring money to ensure certain financing actions. As a result of the investigations that took place until yesterday, it was shown that in fact the purpose of that party, which was coming and was detained at the beginning of September, as well as other such cards that were already in use, were in fact intended to be distributed to key persons within a political party, which was engaged for the election and whose funding came from outside (…).

All the figures were provided with such bank cards, mobile phones and tablets. On these mobile phones and tablets was installed the application that served as a way of operating these money transfers and subsequent servicing. The person responsible for installing and managing the mechanism of the phone application with bank cards was a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, originally from Chisinau, who participated in all the restricted meetings with the member of the respective party and who had the well-organized role of installing and managing this platform (…). Yesterday, 70 searches were carried out. From all the figures were seized these cards, phones and tablets that were being used. The aim was to reduce the number of those couriers who over time have been documented by colleagues from the CNA, SIS (…). Lists were taken of people who were candidates in the next election and where it was established what amounts of money were offered to each of these candidates to purchase certain items of clothing. Money was collected both in foreign and national currency (…)”.

Veronica Dragalin, the head of the PA, said that the source of the money came from outside Moldova, but she could not give more details at present. Asked by journalists whether it was the “Chance” party, affiliated to fugitive former MP Ilan Shor, the PA chief said, “Yesterday’s actions involved several parties, not just one. One thing in common is the link with the party Șor, declared unconstitutional (…)”.

For the past five months, fugitive ex-deputy Ilan Shor allegedly believed that “Arina Spătaru was bought with his money”. The statement was made on 23 September by the former MP, admitting that she is a former elected representative of the people who was recruited by Alexandr Nesterovschi, who collaborated with the lawmen to investigate Shor and illegal party financing. Adrian Culai, secretary-general of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party, also took part in the undercover operation.

She said she had been in Israel to visit Ilan Shor “in his luxurious villa and listened to his evil plans”. Spătaru presented a mobile phone allegedly given to him by Șor along with the money.