Most of those who are investigated for electoral bribery behave as if they did not know about the penalty for contravention. Accepting money to vote as one is told or not to vote entails legal consequences. One is not exempted from responsibility for the committed deeds if they don’t know the law, Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu said at a press conference. He stressed that the authorities know the identity of the voters who accepted electoral bribes, IPN reports.
"These people cannot hide their identity behind phone numbers and accounts opened in Russian commercial banks. Their identity is known and I declare, with all responsibility, that all those who benefited from money through Russian banks or accepted cash from the Shor criminal group to vote in a particular way, with maximum probability, will be summoned by the law enforcement agencies. The contravention and criminal law will be applied equally and proportionally to the established facts," said the prosecutor general.
According to Ion Munteanu, the scheme through which the money reached Moldova, through the PSB mobile application of the commercial bank Promsvyazbank, was designed by the Russian intelligence services. "During the investigative actions, it was established that the recipients of the money are members of the primary local organizations of particular political parties in the country. They are remunerated to pay electors to vote for a particular candidate, who was announced the day before the October 20 election by members of the "Chance" political party or the "Victory" bloc. The payments were also intended for organizing and participating in rallies, flashmob meetings and protests," said Ion Munteanu.
There were carried out more than 800 searches and seized over 50 million lei. A number of 35 people were indicted and 28 were detained. "I want to warn the citizens that the corruption of voters by those who offer electoral bribes carries up to 5 years in prison. The money used in the commission of the crime or their value will be confiscated. In this regard, properties of the perpetrators are seized. For passive electoral corruption, i.e. for those who claim, accept or receive services, privileges in any form, in order to vote in elections, a penalty in the form of a fine of over 35,000 lei is imposed,” stated the prosecutor general said.
He also said that the persons who took electoral bribes are exempted from liability if they denounce or actively contribute to the discovery or counteracting of electoral corruption.
The General Police Inspectorate said that 224 reports over passive electoral corruption were drawn up over the weekend and 143 reports were submitted for examination to the National Anticorruption Center.
