MP of the Shor Party Petru Jardan was stripped of parliamentary immunity. A decision to this effect was taken by Parliament on March 22 after the MPs examined the prosecutor general’s request to lift the parliamentary immunity so that Jardan could be arrested, searched and brought to justice, IPN reports.
According to Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, there are pertinent and conclusive proofs showing that Petru Jardan contributed to the damage caused to the state-run enterprise Chisinau International Airport while under concession. The collected evidence shows Petru Jardan committed large-scale abuse of power in the interests of an organized criminal group and to the detriment of the interests of the enterprise.
It was determined that while serving as acting director general of the Airport in 2013, being a public figure, Petru Jardan, by prior agreement and in concert with other private individuals who haven’t been yet identified, intentionally committed the abuse of power. “Petru Jardan, contrary to the normative framework and acting by agreement with members of the organized criminal group, worked out a plan for minimizing the costs of the conceded enterprise when receiving and managing the Airport’s assets, do the detriment of the enterprise’s interests,” stated Alexandr Stoianoglo.
Answering MPs’ questions, the prosecutor general said that other persons are also investigated in this case. Ilan Shor was charged in the case of the Airport and his parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier in connection with this case. There were also questioned other persons, among whom ex-Premier Iurie Leancă.
Alexandr Stoianoglo also said that the damage caused to the state by conceding the airport is to be determined and the prosecutors will then take a final decision in this case.
Petru Jardan said in Parliament that that he had worked at the airport since 1999 and grew there from a jurist to acting director. “Given my experience, I consider I managed correctly and made every effort to correctly manage this enterprise,” stated the MP, noting he considers he did his job well. “I do not hide behind this immunity. If it’s possible, I will go to the Prosecutor’s Office to answer all the questions, for all the investigative procedures to be performed without my immunity being lifted. It is up to you to decide. Given yet the context, the decision is predictable,” stated Petru Jardan.
When being put to the vote, the draft decision to lift the MP’s immunity was carried by 68 votes in favor.
