Two men said they face jail terms as they were fit up in a criminal case over robbery. In a news conference at IPN, the men, who are investigated outside prison, related how they were involved and what followed after they were arrested.

The case happened on June 15, 2012. One of the men Ion Stavila said they were set up by the brother of an acquaintance of his. Together with his friend and another two men whom he didn’t know until then, they were lured into a dwelling in Cricova, where balaclavas and handcuffs were put on them. Afterward, the police staged the arrest and filmed them immobilized, with guns near them, suggesting that they wanted to commit a robbery.  

Another man Ghevorg Ciobanu-Baxanean said that after they were arrested and taken to the remand center, they were told to admit their blame and to give by €5,000 each in order to escape jail. They were beaten, but weren’t allowed a meeting with the doctor to have this fact documented.

Lawyer Vitalie Taulean, who represents the defense in this case, said that violations are being committed. The other two men, who have a criminal record, have been held on remand for one year and a half though the legislation provides that a person cane be held in a remand unit for at most one year. Judges of the Rascani Court know that the men were framed and protect the persons involved, hurrying up the examination of the case.

The lawyer added that the General Operative Services Division of the Ministry of the Interior, besides aiming to obtain money, wants to show that there are criminal groups in Moldova and they efficiently fight them.