The founder of a construction company Ion Gherman lost his business and was sentenced to 12 years in jail. The businessman’s relatives said he was the victim of a scheme aimed at appropriating his firm by the manager of a vines producing company, which enjoys the political support of the PLDM.

In a news conference at IPN, the deputy head of the People’s Movement “Antimafie” Daniela Bodrug said the scheme was planned under the protection of former Premier Vlad Filat, president of the Supreme Court of Justice Mihai Poalelungi, Minister of Agriculture Vasile Bumacov and president of the Rascani Court Oleg Melniciuc. “It is a classical stratagem of attack on a business and of appropriation through the prosecution bodies and the courts of law,” she stated.

Daniela Bodrug said that Vasile Vutcarau has been named the best businessman in the winegrowing sector for four years. His company obtains annually state subsidies. “As the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry is managed by the PLDM, we have reasons to believe that Vutcarau, through the agency of his company, is the element of a scheme by which state money is transformed into sources for financing political parties,” she stated.

Businessman Ion Gherman was tried for money laundering through the agency of a phantom company. “Judge Melniciuc transformed a civil case into a criminal case in order to intimidate and blackmail the culprit. He did justice selectively, ignoring the arguments and evidence of the defendant. He even told the witness how to formulate the statements,” said Daniela Bodrug.

The businessman’s wife Ala Gherman said that her husband started to cooperate with Vasile Vutcarau in 2005. Afterward, they signed a contract for the construction of a larger complex. “In a period, Vutcarau complained that he cannot recover his debts and asked us to stop the works. We waited. But he, without terminating the contract with us, signed contracts with other firms. He later filed a complaint, saying that my husband Ion Gherman made him sign the receipt of materials in 2005 by swindle,” she stated.

The businessman’s son Paul Gherman said he was phoned and threatened, including on behalf of Vasile Vutcararu.

The case will be reexamined by the Chisinau Court of Appeals on November 6.