The criminal case started against former professional kickboxer Ion Șoltoianu was remitted to court. He was charged on three counts, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases said that two more men will stand trial together with the ex-professional kickboxer. The most recent offense committed by this was against a former detainee who served time in jail together with Ion Șoltoianu in 2019, in the Cricova penitentiary.

He blackmailed the fellow inmate by order of the ex-business partner of this. Ion Șoltoianu illegally received from the victim about 5 million lei, the co-author of the offense being the leader of the criminal organization, the so-called thief in law “Nicu Patron”. The latter was earlier put on the wanted list.

The former professional athlete was also investigated for two more blackmail offenses. One of these was committed by order of the third accused person. This way, he illegally asked for sums of €150,000, €500,000 and for the signing of financial documents disadvantageous to the victim.

The criminal case will be examined by the Chisinau Court. Ion Șoltoianu faces up to 20 years behind bars.

Earlier, Ion Șoltoianu was sentenced to 14 years in jail for murder, blackmail and illegal keeping of arms. The Moldovan kickboxer was accused of killing police officer Ion Stratulat in September 2011, at a terrace in central Chisinau. Ion Șoltoianu served eight years in jail and was set free after amendments to the Penal Procedure Code took effect on January 1, 2019. Under the amendments, the persons held in inhuman or degrading conditions for at least ten days could ask for a reduction in the jail term or for damages.