A man who acted as a “courier” for money within the Chance (Sansa) Political Party has been fined 45,000 lei after being found guilty of illegally financing a political party. To ensure payment of the fine, the seizure of his car was upheld. Additionally, over 613,000 lei was confiscated and transferred to the state, IPN reports.

According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, the Chisinau Court accepted the man's plea agreement, marking the first conviction for illegal party financing. The criminal case was separated from another case on October 16 of this year.

The defendant admitted that, on a regular basis, he facilitated the transportation and distribution of sums of money and gifts through intermediaries to individuals providing services for the Chance (Sansa) Political Party. These services included promoting the party and its candidates, participating in meetings and demonstrations - all conducted with unrecorded and undeclared goods, in violation of the law.

In March, the man, with the intent to illegally finance the Chance (Sansa) Party from prohibited sources, transferred a package containing 613,500 lei to an individual. The money was to be redistributed, through intermediaries, to citizens involved in the party's activities, bypassing the legal regulations on political financing.

The trial lasted three weeks. The case is being reviewed by a specialized judge.

The sentence can be appealed within 15 days at the Chisinau Court of Appeal.