The former acting president of SA “Banca de Economii” (BEM) Viorel Birca was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement of foreign property in particularly large proportions and in the interests of an organized criminal group, IPN reports.

According to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, the criminal case was separated from the criminal case concerning the stealing of assets worth US$100 million from BEM in 2013-2014 by a criminal group that includes public figures, persons holding public positions, individuals and legal entities.

The convict, between July 2013 and September 2014, holding the position of interim president of BEM and having the duty to organize the bank’s activity and ensure the rational use of financial funds, forged seven SWIFT international payment orders. Being a co-author, he stole funds in the amount of US$100 million from the financial institution.

On March 11, 2021, the criminal case against the former interim president of SA “Banca de Economii” was sent for substantive examination to the Buiucani Court of Chisinau. The trial lasted for three years and the defendant denied any wrongdoing.

On January 29, 2024, the Buiucani Court found the defendant guilty, sentencing him to 10 years in a closed prison and banning him from holding positions in the financial-banking sector for a five-year period. The man is to also pay damages in the amount of US$100 million converted into national currency.

The court maintained the seizure of 1/2 of the assets belonging to the convict worth about 4 million lei in order to guarantee the recovery of the damage. Also, court costs amounting to over 32,000 lei were collected from the convict for the benefit of the state.

The sentence can be challenged in Chisinau Court of Appeals.