Moldovan Member of Parliament risks five years in jail

The Hancesti District Court sentenced MP Vasile Colta to five years in prison, placing him on probation for a term of two years. According to the Prosecutor-General’s Office, the deputy was charged with exceeding his authority by selling two plots of land when he was mayor of Hancesti. This way, he caused losses of nearly MDL 300,000 to the state. Colta was also found guilty of hurting three bicyclists in August while driving his car. The court imposed a fine of MDL 300 on him. In addition, Vasile Colta is accused of committing a cigarette smuggling attempt. On September 19, Romanian customs officers held the deputy at the Albita-Leuseni checkpoint for smuggling over 11,000 packs of cigarettes worth MDL 120,000. The decisions of the Hancesti Court can be appealed in the higher court. Vasile Colta was elected Member of Parliament on behalf of Moldova Democrata Bloc. After the smuggling attempt, his membership in Moldova Noasta Alliance (AMN) was withdrawn, and in September 2006 he was also excluded from the AMN parliamentary faction.