Three people were detained in an investigation opened on illegal party financing and money laundering charges. These are former law enforcement officers, including two retired colonels. Details were presented today at a joint press conference by the Chief of Police and the Anticorruption Chief Prosecutor.
Investigators identified not only the people distributing the money in the provinces, but also found one of the safe houses where cash was put in envelopes to be distributed. When a suspect was detained in that apartment, about 600,000 lei was found on him, of the 5.5 million lei seized in total.
Chief of Police Viorel Cernăuțeanu said the cash was intended for electoral activities carried out last September and October. The suspects apparently believed that lying low and withholding payments until this moment would make it difficult for the investigation to establish the connection to the illegal funding of campaign activities.
Anticorruption Chief Prosecutor Veronica Dragalin told reporters there are several related cases investigating illegal financing of political parties and money laundering. Those cases share a common element: Ilan Shor funding political parties and candidates in violation of the law.
Dragalin added that last year over 140 searches were conducted and 350 witnesses were heard in these related cases. Around 20 have been formally charged or indicted. “As to the case concerning the financing of the former Shor Party, there are about 60 people accused. In June 2023, the leader, the main perpetrator of this crime, lawmaker Marina Tauber, and the legal entity, the Shor Party, were sent to court,” Dragalin added.
