Former Moldovan MP detained for espionage, high treason

Chisinau, 20 March /MOLDPRES/ – Former Moldovan MP Iurie Bolboceanu was arrested for espionage and treason. The statement was made by prosecutor Vitalie Busuioc, in a press conference today.

According to cited source, the former official had been allegedly recruited a few years ago by foreign secret services, to which he systematically would transmit secret information, to the detriment of Moldova. "The prosecution, in this case, has lasted almost seven months during which it was found the secret nature of the meetings of Bolboceanu and an undercover officer from a foreign country. The citizen was caught red-handed after a conspiratorial meeting held with the undercover agent. The meetings were organized about one time per month for several years, and were made following some special measures of conspiracy. The passing of information was carried out by means of a specialized laptop and the suspect was paid at each meeting, usually in amounts from hundreds to thousands of euros. At present, Bolboceanu refuses to testify," said Busuioc.

However, prosecutor Anatol Pitel said that it was gathered sufficient evidence that would prove the guilt of the detained person. "In the period of October 2016 – March 2017, we documented more meetings in which it was received information which could have harmed our country. Following the searches, there were found about $23 thousand, documents, a computer and a mobile phone for discussions with the foreign agent, at the place of living of the suspect," said Pitel.

At his turn, deputy director of Intelligence and Security Service, Alexandru Balan, said that "during his espionage, the former official had met with several security agents of that country. The agent came to secret meetings with a certain amount of information printed on paper, storage devices or in computers," said Balan.

The former deputy of parliament was initially detained for 72 hours. Similarly, the Chisinau Centre Court issued an arrest warrant on name of Bolboceanu for a period of 30 days today. Also, according to prosecutors, there were submitted charges for the crime of treason to the suspect. If found guilty, he risks a sentence from 12 to 20 years in prison.

Former Democrat MP Iurie Bolboceanu was detained on 17 March 2017 in an open folder for espionage and treason. Bolboceanu was Member of Parliament since November 2010. In March 2014 he announced that he was leaving the Democratic Party.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)