Dorin Damir, president of the Martial Arts Federation, was acquitted on Tuesday by the Centre Court of Appeal in the case concerning blackmail and interference with the administration of justice, in which he was accused of exerting pressure on businessman Vladislav Musteata. The information was confirmed to IPN by the spokesperson of the Centre Court of Appeal, Adelina Rosca.

The appellate court quashed ex officio the sentence issued by the Chisinau Court in December 2022 and delivered a new ruling acquitting Damir. The decision is enforceable from the moment of its adoption.

According to the prosecution, Dorin Damir allegedly tried in June 2021 to persuade the founder of Proimobil, Vladislav Musteata, to withdraw his claims and change his procedural position in a criminal case. Prosecutors claimed that the messages were allegedly conveyed through a lawyer and included veiled threats of violence.

During the trial, Dorin Damir rejected the accusations and said that he does not personally know Vladislav Musteata and had no meetings with him. In turn, his lawyers challenged the evidence presented by the prosecution and requested an acquittal.

Previously, the Chisinau Court concluded that the acts imputed did not meet the elements of the offences of blackmail and interference with the administration of justice. The same solution was also upheld by the Centre Court of Appeal.

Dorin Damir was not present when the ruling was pronounced. He is currently serving a three-year prison sentence in another case concerning fictitious employment at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.