A group of homebuyers that entered a shared-equity deal complain of losing about 35,000 euros each after the developer went bankrupt before they could receive their apartments.
The swindled buyers told their story at a press conference. Ludmila, for example, paid the entire amount at the end of 2015 and she was promised by the developer Consam SA that in 2016 she would receive her apartment in a complex that would be erected in Chisinau’s Ciocana district. In 2018 the company filed for bankruptcy. “That’s when our nightmare began,” says Ludmila.
The buyers went to the prosecutors and other authorities, which seem reluctant to help. “We asked the General Prosecutor’s Office to open an investigation. But they refused, referring us to the Ciocana Prosecutor’s Office, who say they don’t have the jurisdiction to investigate all the details. Everywhere we go, there are obstacles,” says Victor.
Vlad also paid the entire amount upfront but received nothing. He declared that the person who took the money was someone from the entourage of the President.
Lawyer Ion Ciumac is representing a group of about 20 buyers in court. “The developer’s lawyer told us in court brazenly that he would play for time as much as he could until the developer got away with it,” said Ion Ciumac.
Attending the press conference, MP for Ciocana Dan Perciun said 100 families lost their savings in the scheme. “These people are trying in vain to find justice in our corrupt judicial system, but they can’t win against the money of this developer”. As an MP, Perciun added, he will promote an insolvency bill that protects homebuyers when developers file for bankruptcy.
