The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office cannot start a criminal case based on statements made in TV program by the mayor of Balti Renato Usatyi, who said that the first deputy chairman of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc offered him money to leave the country. The Offices’ chief Viorel Morari said that the procedures must be respected for starting a criminal case and questioning Usatyi is an indispensable element. This morning, Renato Usatyi went to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, but discussed only with journalists there, IPN reports.
Viorel Morari said that when statements about particular offenses are made, a criminal case can be started only based on a complaint or a denouncing statement or on the findings of the prosecutor. “Usatyi made accusations, but he should make statements for the prosecutors as an injured side or as a witness. We need details. We cannot count on a media show,” he stated.
Viorel Morari added that Renato Usatyi said he does not trust the prosecutors, but didn’t give these the possibility of showing that he can have confidence in them. He noted that he does not see how the politician can be brought before the prosecutors by force as this can anytime refuse to make statements.
The mayor of Balti town Renato Usaty in the morning of July 25 gave a news conference in front of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office. He said that he didn’t meet with prosecutors for being questioned about the statements he made last week because he does not have confidence that these will honestly investigate what he said. Usatyi’s lawyers said the politician was summoned for a ‘discussion’ and no reference to a criminal case is mentioned in the summons, which is not legal, according to them.
