Criminal case against Marina Tauber and the “Sor” political party sent to trial. Anti-Corruption prosecutors: The amount of illegal financing of the party exceeds 195 million lei

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (AP) announced on Tuesday, June 20, that the criminal case against Marina Tauber and the legal entity, Political Party “Șor”, charged with four counts of falsifying reports on the financing of the electoral campaign and the political party, and accepting illegal financing from an “organized criminal group”, has been sent to court for examination on the merits.

The criminal prosecution was initiated in January 2022, based on a referral from the National Investigation Inspectorate and the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

“According to the evidence administered by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office jointly with the National Anti-Corruption Centre and the Intelligence and Security Service, it was found that Marina Tauber, participating as a candidate nominated by the “Șor” Political Party for the position of mayor of Balti municipality, in the electoral campaign of 21 November 2021, intentionally and in prior agreement with the party treasurer, acting at the behest and in strict coordination with the organized criminal group led by Ilan Șor, received from the organized criminal group funds in the amount of 9 752 000 lei, of which 740 464,50 lei, she entered falsely in the donation forms in the name of 104 individuals who in reality did not donate this amount of money, false data which she entered in the reports on the financial management of electoral campaigns, by substituting, concealing the identity of donors, the volume of funds accumulated and used, and subsequently signed the reports personally and registered them with the Central Electoral Commission.

She also knowingly accepted the financing of the electoral contestant from an organized criminal group during the new local elections for the position of mayor of Balti municipality on 21 November 2021, in the amount of 9 752 000 lei.

Tauber Marina also intentionally committed, as perpetrator, the falsification of the report on the financial management of political parties with the intention of substituting, hiding the identity of donors, the volume of accumulated funds, the destination and volume of funds used, as well as the use of undeclared, non-compliant funds from abroad, committed in large proportions,” the AP states.

At the same time, according to the AP, Marina Tauber is also accused that as vice-chairwoman of the “Shor” Political Party, in the interests of the political party, she knowingly accepted the financing of the political party from the “organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor”, in the total amount of 195,518,013 lei, illicit financial sources that were integrated into the activity and maintenance of the party, in order to promote and achieve the interests of the “organized criminal group” in the political arena of Moldova, to seize power in the state.

“Thus, out of the total amount of 195,518,013 lei, approximately 8.5 million lei were transferred under the control of the prosecution body, and approximately 9 million lei were detected and collected during the conduct of searches.

The defendants did not admit to the crimes committed, and the criminal case in 67 volumes, together with the indictment on 348 files, was sent to the Chisinau Court of Appeals, Buiucani headquarters, for examination on the merits,” the press release reads.

For the offence committed, the law provides for punishment in the form of a fine ranging from 57,500 to 92,500 lei or imprisonment from 2 to 7 years, in both cases with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise certain activities for a period of 2 to 5 years, and the legal entity is punished with a fine ranging from 250,000 to 450,000 lei, with deprivation of the right to exercise a certain activity or with liquidation of the legal entity.

Marina Tauber is currently under house arrest until 30 June 2023.

Note: A person accused of committing a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.

On Monday, 19 June, the Constitutional Court declared the “Shor” political party unconstitutional. According to the High Court, the “Sor” political party is considered dissolved and no act of the party’s organs adopted after the ruling has legal value. The Ministry of Justice will appoint a commission to liquidate the political party and take all necessary measures to liquidate and remove it from the State Register of Legal Entities.

After the High Court’s decision, the head of state said in a Facebook post that “the state institutions are to analyse the considerations of the CC decision and take the next steps in order to respect and effectively implement this decision”.