The pace of the investigation into the banking fraud is very slow. This is the main conclusion formulated in the parliamentary hearings where acting Prosecutor General Eduard Harujen and National Bank governor Sergiu Cioclea presented reports, IPN reports.
In the November 25 sitting of Parliament, the acting Prosecutor General said 177 criminal cases were started over the thefts committed at the three banks. In some of the cases, particular ties were identified with public functionaries and state officials who supposedly influenced decisions that led to the insolvency of Banca de Economii, Banca Sociala and Unibank.
Harujen didn’t provide many details and didn’t give names, except for several that were already known, saying more details could affect the ongoing investigation.
He said the damage caused to the state resulting from these cases totals 16.4 billion lei. About 800 million lei has been recovered so far, including from the sale of assets, buildings and equipment.
Sergiu Cioclea spoke about the contract signed with Kroll, which follows the flows of money, delinquent loans and the recovery of the stolen money. He said that a meeting with representatives of this company will be held in Chisinau next week to see how the funds can be recovered, especially those transferred to banks in other countries.
Answering MPs’ questions, both of the officials said such investigations cannot be conducted swiftly. It is rather hard to collect evidence abroad. Not all the jurisdictions are ready to provide the necessary information even if some of these showed readiness to help. The U.S. could help recover the stolen money.
After the two officials were questioned, MP Vasile Bolea said the ‘theft of the century’ started when the state lost the controlling interest in Banca de Economii. “Who encouraged taking such a decision,” he asked rhetorically.
MP Mihai Ghimpu asked to publish the list of persons, including MPs, who raised large loans from Banca de Economii and didn’t repay them, contributing thus to a higher number of bad loans. “The country must know its heroes,” he stated. He requested to analyze the actions taken by the central bank in 2013- 2014 and establish if it had enough instruments to intervene and prevent the worsening of the situation.
MP Marian Lupu approved of the fact that the property of the persons involved in the 177 criminal cases is being confiscated, but noted that a body should be set up to sell these assets so as to reduce the burden imposed on the people by converting the stolen money into state debt.
