Former MP Kiril Luchinski said he was several times told to leave the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM). In 2015, he was offered money to leave the PLDM and its parliamentary group, to become an unaffiliated MP and not to join another party. He made the revelations in the talk show “Black box” on TV8 channel, IPN reports.

“I was offered a considerable sum of money – 2.5 million dollars or euros. The sum shocked me and I don’t remember the currency. I was told the money will be brought in case,” stated the ex-MP.

According to him, two attempts were made to persuade the Liberal-Democratic MPs to leave the party – before Vladimir Plahotniuc was proposed for Prime Minister and later. “These were clear attempts. I must tell you that it was a period of crisis when we practically didn’t have leadership in the party as Vlad Filat was jailed,” noted Kiril Luchinski.

He added that a criminal case was started against him afterward. “Friends, acquaintances called me and told me that there was a criminal case against me. I wondered what this criminal case was related to if I hadn’t been involved in any scheme, public procurement procedure or something like this. Culture was my field of activity,” stated the former MP.

Kiril Luchinski is accused of money laundering and violation of the property declaring regime by hiding his ownership of a company that was allegedly involved in the bank fraud.

The ex-MP pleads not guilty. He says the criminal case started against him represents revenge taken by the former government. At the start of this April, he was sentenced to five years and a half in jail. His lawyers challenged the sentence in the Appeals Court.