Seven representatives of transport companies were arrested by the police on suspicion that they resorted to blackmail, destruction and intentional damaging of goods that belonged to rival firms in order to liquidate their opponents.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the group was organized by two inhabitants of Chisinau aged 38 and 33, who manage firms specialized in the transportation of passengers. They targeted the managers of rival firms. The suspects blackmailed, set on fire and damaged buses belonging to their rivals on the territory of Moldova, Russia and the Czech Republic. They also made attempts on the life of their opponents.

On April 25, the police carried out searches at the homes, offices and in the units of transport of suspects.

Contacted by IPN for details, deputy chief prosecutor of Chisinau municipality Corneliu Bratunov said the intentional damaging of property carries a penalty of at most six years in jail, blackmailing – up to seven years behind bars, while hooliganism – at most five years in prison.