We felt neither joy nor reassurance when we learned about the two or three arrests in the case of the stolen billion in the middle of this week. Firstly, because none of that billion has been recovered yet and the arrest of the two or three suspects involved in the theft does not bring much profit to the state’s treasury. Moreover, the state, which had been robbed, is now spending money on the maintenance of these two or three detainees in preventive detention institutions and the hospital. No matter how much or little is spent, it is still money from the state budget. Secondly, the arrest of a few persons on the eve of the 100 days of the new government, betrays signs of populism and speaks less of true justice.

In this context, several questions should be addressed. The involvement of Reghina Apostolova, Marina Tauber and other people suspected in the case of the stolen billion became almost certain the very day the first Kroll Report was made public on May 4, 2015. Why has the detention of the two parliamentarians become appropriate only now? What evidence or new circumstances have the investigators discovered? Prosecutors have not advanced any argument in this regard, except that the women, suspected of involvement in the theft of the billion, could have evaded the investigation or escaped altogether. Thus, they were detained shortly after in Orhei, of all places.

It’s been three months since Ilan Shor was practically allowed to leave Moldova and, subsequently, during these three months, nobody disturbed the deputies suspected of robbery. They were not bothered by any interrogations or any searches; in fact, they were not disturbed at all.  And now, quite spontaneously, three days ago, some of them have been detained. Perhaps their arrest was intended to become a convincing argument in the anti-corruption campaign in Moldova. 

• Shor Fled Moldova. Who Helped Him?

Unfortunately, the scene of the two deputies’ arrest reminds us of a similar scene that took place under other governments in Moldova, which had very little, if any, results. Where does this suspicion that the recent detentions could result in another failure come from? From the fact that there is almost nothing right in the Moldovan justice. Prosecutors open cases and say they investigate them, judges take cases from prosecutors and say they do justice, lawyers say they defend the parties, yet, they seek to benefit from these transactions with the justice system.

There’s nothing truthful in the Moldovan justice system and for this reason, the episodes involving the arrests and masked special forces seem like a poorly acted performance.

• Justice in the Post-Kroll Era. Case Study: Vlad Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor

As long as the Prosecutor General’s Office cannot explain the logic of their actions, it is hard to believe them. Note that the list of names in the Kroll reports is extremely impressive. In addition to the fugitive Ilan Shor, and the deputies Marina Tauber and Reghina Apostolova, there is also the former President of Moldova Petru Lucinschi, the former head of Customs during the communist period, Viorel Melnic, his son, Oleg Budza, as well as a former member of the Socialist Party and a close member of the Dodon family, Alexandru Brestecico – the current head of the Moldovan Trade Unions, who made several transactions with Shor’s companies and is one of the sponsors of the current head of state.

Let the Prosecutor General tell us the status of these people and the others present in the Kroll reports and the Billion Case. Let us know when the other participants will be brought to justice. Let the Prosecutor General tell us why, in the four years since the first Kroll Report was published, no lawsuit on the theft of that billion has reached the courts. And let the authorities of this state tell us how much of the stolen billion has actually been recovered.

The fact that the CNA, through the Agency for the Recovery of Criminal Assets has recently applied seizures amounting to about 19 million euros in the bank fraud cases and took possession of 11 cars means too little. Considering the current state of justice in Moldova, no one can guarantee today that the sequesters will not eventually be lifted.

Aneta Grosu, aneta@zdg.md