Half of the gains earned by the scheme to import electrical energy from Ukraine in 2008 went to an offshore company belonging to former Democratic leader Vladimir Plahotniuc, energy expert Sergiu Tofilat stated in a news conference at IPN.
According to Sergiu Tofilat, two months ago the presidential administration received information from the Service for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering, according to which half of the money earned by Energopartner (intermediary company) went to an offshore company owned by the ex-Democratic leader – Borg Trades Corporation. There was also a direct transfer from Energopartner to Borg Trades Corporation, with which a Swiss watch worth US$50,000 was bought.
“Having all these materials, the Prosecutor’s Office realized that it will be unable to hush this case up and this May the prosecutor general ordered to resume the investigation. In fact, he ordered to institute criminal proceedings,” stated Sergiu Tofilat. According to him, the facts known until now are sufficient to hold those to blame accountable.
Sergiu Tofilat said Igor Dodon, who then served as minister of economy, in a TV program admitted that he was involved in that scheme. He learned about the scheme owing to a journalistic investigation conducted in 2008. Together with mates, he collected evidence and filed a complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office.
The energy expert related that until April 2008, Moldova bought electricity from Ukraine from the supplier Ukrinterenergo, without intermediaries, at the price of US$40 per MWh. In April 2008, the Government of the Republic of Moldova sent a delegation to negotiate a new contract for the import of electricity. The delegation was led by Igor Dodon, then minister of economy, Marc Rîmiș, administrator at Moldelectrica, and Alexandru Gusev, director of Energocom. Namely Alexandru Gusev signed the contract after Igor Dodon closed the negotiations.
Starting with May, Moldova had already two contracts for the purchase of electricity from Ukraine. A part of the energy is bought directly from Ukrinterenergo for US$40 per MWh, while another part is purchased through the intermediary company Energopartner for US$53 per MWh. In May-December 2008, Energopartner gained US$14.5 million by causing damage to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
On October 31, 2017, a complaint was filed to the Prosecutor’s Office and a criminal case was started, but this was dropped shortly without the complainers being informed. Sergiu Tofilat said he learned about the dropping of the case last year only. They disputed the decision to drop the case, but the challenge was rejected and they sued the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases. They won the case and the prosecutors had to reopen the case.
Expert Tudor Șoitu said that he and his mates are ready to provide assistance to the prosecutors in this case if these need it. He stated the experts will closely monitor the actions of the prosecutors, noting that all are equal before the law.
