Businessman Viorel Topa, the first deputy head of the Antimafia Movement, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on January 13, Info-Prim Neo reports. The decision was passed by the Buiucani District Court. According to a communiqué from the Antimafia Movement, the case against Viorel Topa over things done in 2001 was started the next day after he made public statements against the mafia elements existing in the state institutions. Viorel Topa, together with Sergiu Mocanu, instituted public proceedings against Vladimir Plahotniuc in August 2010. On October 19, 2011 his brother Victor Topa was sentenced to 10 years in prison for obtaining property in large amounts by blackmail. Viorel and Victor Topa are now outside the country.