At least ten judges and a bailiff of the 18 arrested on September 20 were placed under arrest for a period of 30 days, based on warrants issued by the Buiucani Court by 5:30pm on September 22, IPN reports.

According to prosecutors, they asked for arrest warrants in order to avoid interference in the investigation and to prevent the modification or destruction of evidence. The suspects plead not guilty.

Twenty criminal cases were started against current and former judges and bailiffs as a result of searches at their homes and offices and in their cars on September 20 and 21. These are suspected of involvement in the laundering of US$20 billion from Russia through the Moldovan judicial system and face five to ten years in jail.