Moldova to sign contract with Kroll audit company over next few days

Chisinau, 5 October /MOLDPRES/ - The contract with the consortium of firms Kroll and Steptoe & Johnson LLP on the second phase of the investigation in the case of the embezzlement of the three banks will be signed within the next days, Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet said in a press conference today.

"Just a few weeks ago, direct negotiations with the Kroll Company were successful. The result presented to me by the National Bank is a satisfactory one for Moldova. The conditions are favourable", the premier said.

After the negotiations, the Kroll Company will present the contract. "I think we are talking about a few days. This topic was also addressed in the discussions with our development partners. We are close to signing the contract which is to be enforced immediately", said Valeriu Strelet. The contract will be signed by the National Bank.

The consortium made up of Kroll and Steptoe & Johnson LLP is the only one of the four internationally renowned firms invited to the tender, which expressed readiness to perform the second stage of the investigation at the Savings Bank (Banca de Economii), Social Bank (Banca Sociala) and Unibank.

The consortium will provide a clear chronological picture on people who controlled the dubious transactions, controlled the banks and benefited from the investigated transactions. It will also initiate civil, criminal, intergovernmental, insolvency actions, in coordination with the National Bank, in Moldova and abroad to track, retain and recover assets.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor L. Alcaza)