The General Prosecutor's Office completed the criminal investigation into the episode incriminated to the former President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, in the so-called Energocom case.
Accordingly, the accused Igor Dodon and his defenders were summoned to the Prosecutor's Office and were informed, as required by law, about the completion of the criminal investigation. After notifying the accused and his defenders about the end of the criminal investigation, a timetable was established regarding the place and period in which they could get acquainted with the materials of the criminal case. The General Prosecutor's Office reminded that in this criminal case the former head of state is accused of committing a crime related to abuse of power by an official in the interests of an organized criminal group (article 46, article 328 part (3) of the Criminal Code). The accusation against Dodon refers to his actions in 2008-2009, when he held the position of First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Trade. Specifically, Igor Dodon is accused of signing, in May 2008, when he held the office of First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Trade, a statement allowing the director general of Energocom to sign a contract with a foreign company from Hungary to buy 2.32 billion kWh of electric energy for Moldova for a period starting May 2008 till June 2009, despite the legal provisions that referred to the activity of the state power management centers represented by the Ministry of Economy and Trade and especially the functional powers of the Minister of Economy and Trade. According to the terms of this contract the price of electricity for the period from May to September 2008 inclusive was $0,053 per 1 kWh, and $0,058 per 1 kWh for the electricity supplied during the period from October 2008 to June 2009 inclusive, though Energocom had already negotiated and concluded two supply contracts at a lower (by 29%) price. As a result of these actions the state, represented by Energocom, incurred particularly big damage of $11 million 927 thousand 173 equivalent to 123 million 957 thousand 916 lei. During the criminal proceedings there were obtained evidence showing the malicious nature of the aforementioned contract for the sale of electricity, concluded to the detriment of the state interests. According to the Prosecutor's Office, these actions increased electricity tariffs, affecting the rights of final consumers, the citizens of Moldova. The General Prosecutor's Office specified that the episode against the former President of Moldova was a separate procedure from the main case. The Prosecutor's Office specifies that the criminal investigation continues in relation to some individuals and foreign companies registered in offshore zones, to the accounts of which some financial means resulting from the Energocom electricity purchase contract were transferred. Some of them are part of an organized criminal group led by Vladimir Plahotniuc through his confidants, including Vladimir Andronachi. The latter two are the final beneficiaries of a part of the financial means received from the "electricity scheme". Similarly, further criminal investigations concern transfers of funds from the "electricity scheme" made to the account of a political party in Moldova, individuals and companies affiliated with persons holding high public office. The results of the investigation will be reported later by the Prosecutor's Office. It is to be noted that former President Igor Dodon pleaded not guilty and qualified the criminal case initiated against him as a political order. He noted that he would prove his innocence in court. // 09.08.2022 - InfoMarket.
