The prosecutors filed an appeal against the judge of inquiry’s decision to annul the prosecutor’s order to investigate the case involving the ex-president of the Management Board of Victoriabank. The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office considers that by this decision, the judge abused his authority, becoming involved in the crux of the matter, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) says the judge of inquiry’s decision is unfounded and illegal and the Chisinau City Appeals Court should correct the made mistake. The case in which the ex-president is charged on two counts was to be sent to court two months ago, after the prosecutors collected enough evidence in this regard. Furthermore, the PGO considers that by the adopted decision, the judge aimed to free the accused from criminal liability and it will be thus considering the possibility of holding the judge accountable.

Two months ago, the PGO completed the investigation into the involvement of the commercial bank Victoriabank in the banking fraud. The criminal case that consists of 40 volumes refers both to the bank as a legal entity that is accused of money laundering and also to the former president of the bank’s Board, who is charged with considerable swindle and money laundering in the interests of a criminal organization. Also then, the defendants in this case were informed about the dropping of the case. When familiarizing herself with the materials of the case, the accused woman challenged the prosecutor’s order to investigate the case. The given challenge was rejected by the superior prosecutor and the accused filed the challenge court, which accepted it.

The ex-president of the Management Board of Victoriabank is investigated outside remand after in March the same court rejected the prosecutors’ request to remand the accused person in custody.