Igor Dodon detained for 72 hours

The former Moldovan president Igor Dodon will spend 72 hours in custody, alongside another person of interest, to prevent him from tempering with evidence, the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) announced Wednesday.

PA spokesperson Elena Cazacov told a press briefing that the assets involved in the alleged offences are of the order of tens of millions of lei; the assets include foreign currency, real property, cars and luxury items, among others.

Igor Dodon faces charges of bribery, receiving illegal financing for his political party from a criminal organization, high treason, and unjust enrichment.

His arrest was preceded earlier today by searches at his home and other addresses, including at property that he is believed to own through proxies. The evidence collected included cash, contracts, documents and receipts.

The investigation looks at events that have happened since 2014 until present. Among the evidence is an infamous piece of footage leaked earlier that appeared to show Dodon receiving a black plastic bag from the former Democratic Party boss Vlad Plahotniuc, currently a fugitive from justice. Prosecutors that conducted the case earlier formally dismissed this piece of evidence as lacking merit.  

The other person held together with Dodon is his brother-in-law. He is alleged to have tried to swallow papers sought as evidence during the search.

In reaction to the arrest, members and supporters of the Socialist Party protested outside the Parliament building denouncing the criminal proceedings against Dodon as political retaliation.