Parliament has slapped an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating on the job done by the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Anticorruption Center in recovering the funds stolen from the banking system. Following an analysis of the information submitted by the Prosecutor General's Office, a draft resolution was put forward by the Legal Committee that was adopted by 57 MPs.
Parliament found a lack of measurable action and progress in the recovery process of the funds stolen from the banking system and said that the inefficient performance of the heads of the responsible authorities was unjustifiably delaying effective action towards achieving the desired objective.
The legislature called on the Prosecutor General's Office to intensify international cooperation with the special services of other countries, including by means of joint investigation teams, and with the European Union Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Justice, in order to investigate the bank fraud and to recover stolen funds and assets.
Parliament further called for the development and approval within 30 days of an efficient, effective and workable tool for the recovery of stolen funds from the banking system, as well as a new action plan for its deployment, which includes biannual public progress reporting.
Parliament urged the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) to undertake all necessary measures, in accordance with the law, to ensure that the courts, when dispensing justice in cases concerning the embezzlement of the banking system and the recovery of funds stolen from the banking system, ensure compliance with the principles of a speedy trial, transparency in the dispensation of justice and openness towards society.
According to BCS MP Vlad Batrîncea, the main focus should be the recovery of money. The MP said that the project does not engage the ARBI and other specialized prosecutor's offices as responsible institutions, which leaves the impression that the draft seeks to settle a political score against someone rather than showing a sincere desire. In his opinion, the document needs to be worked upon, while BNM's role should be more clearly defined.
Șor group MP Denis Ulanov explained that his group abstained from voting in order to avoid being blamed for settling accounts with the Prosecutor General, Alexandr Stoianoglo.
PAS MP Lilian Carp wondered whether the report showed the number of initiated criminal proceedings on the billion theft and the number of those that have been completed. To this effect, Olesea Stamate said that the brief note provided some information on the criminal cases brought to trial, some 4 or 5 cases, which are part of the larger bank fraud investigation.
Igor Grosu suggested that the Prosecutor General's Office report should be made public once the matter is concluded in Parliament.
