Viorel Topa put on wanted list

Businessman Viorel Topa has been put on the wanted list to be arrested in a case where he is suspected of embezzling money from Banca de Economii ten years ago, Info-Prim Neo reports. The arrest measure, ordered by a district court earlier this month, was upheld on Monday by the Chisinau Court of Appeals (CCA). While Viorel Topa fled the country, his attorney insists the case is based on trumped-up charges. Vitalie Muntean, clerk for Judge Xenofon Ulianovschi of the CCA, told our reporter the Court's decision made the arrest measure irreversible. The Court noted in particular that Topa had failed to show up for court hearings. “Having the status of a suspect, Viorel Topa is obliged to appear at all court sittings that concern him, and this obligation was ignored. Viorel Topa is not currently in Moldova. Efforts to find the suspect are being undertaken by a specialized police subdivision”, a source with the Buiucani Police told Info-Prim Neo. Earlier, Virel Topa's lawyer Andrei Nastase requested the replacement of the set of CCA judges, doubting their impartiality. He insisted the case against Topa was someone's order and the charges were fabricated.