The money stolen from Banca de Economii (BEM) could be partially restored, the deputy head of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) Valeriu Strelet  said in the program “Pahomi” on Realitatea TV channel, IPN reports.

The Liberal-Democratic heavyweight explained that the money was transferred from one bank account to another. “This money wasn’t carried by sacks. It was transferred and it can be tracked down. The company “Kroll” is specialized in such cases and can help us. We must take concrete measures to return those 12 billion lei that was stolen. It should be started with the secured loans. Everything possible should be done to avoid the allocation of new sums for saving the BEM,” stated Strelet.

Asked who is to blame for the given situation, Valeriu Strelet said the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the situation at the BEM and in the financial-banking sector established that the members of banks’ administration boards are responsible. “These adopted illegal decisions and allowed releasing very large loans to small companies without credit history,” he said.

He also said that he considers the governor of the National Bank is also to blame. “I have questions to Dorin Dragutanu. The central bank issued only prescriptions and didn’t take other steps, even if it had to. More officials of the National Bank should be dismissed, not only one,” stated the deputy head of the PLDM.

Valeriu Strelet denied any involvement of the chairman of the PLDM in the thefts committed at the BEM. “The commission of inquiry didn’t provide evidence concerning Vlad Filat’s involvement. This issue wasn’t even discussed. I know Filat very well. I never saw him together with Ilan Shor. All the accusations made against Filat are only speculations disseminated by his political opponents,” he stated.