Moldova’s ex-ambassador to Russia Andrei Neguța was questioned after being accused of complicity in smuggling. He pleaded not guilty, IPN reports, quoting the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases.

The prosecutors asked the court to place the suspect in remand detention for 30 days.

Four persons are investigated in this case. Two of them are in remand detention. In relation to the third person, the court ordered arrest in absentia. The former ambassador is to learn the preventive measure today.

The penalty for such offenses is three to ten years in jail.

On December 5, customs officers found anabolic steroids estimated at over 8 million lei in a minibus with a diplomatic license plate belonging to Moldova’s Embassy in Russia at the Palanca customs post. On December 9, Andrei Neguța was dismissed from the post of ambassador. Prime Minister Ion Chicu said then the decision was taken in connection with the shameful act witnessed at the start of this month.