The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) informs about the termination of the criminal prosecution against MP Marina Tauber and the legal entity Political Party “Shor”, charged with four counts of falsifying reports on campaign and political party financing and accepting illegal financing from an organized criminal group (Art. 30, 42 para. (2), 45, 1812 par. (1), Art. 30, 42 para. (3), 45, 1812 par. (5), Art. 42 para. (2), 45, 1812 par. (1) and Art. 30, 42 par. (3), 45, 1812 par. (5) of the Penal Code).

According to the evidence, prosecutors found that Marina Tauber, participating as a candidate nominated by the Political Party “Shor” for the position of mayor of the municipality. Balti, in the electoral campaign of 21 November 2021, intentionally and in prior agreement with the party treasurer, acting at the behest of and in strict coordination with the organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor, would have received from the organized criminal group funds in the amount of 9 752 000 lei, of which 740 464, 50 lei, he would falsely enter in the donation forms in the name of 104 individuals who in reality did not donate this amount of money, false data which he would enter in the reports on the financial management of electoral campaigns, by substituting, concealing the identity of the donors, the volume of funds accumulated and used, and then he would personally sign the reports and register them with the Central Electoral Commission.

She also, according to the AP, knowingly accepted the financing of the electoral contestant from an organized criminal group, during the new local elections for mayor of Balti municipality on 21 November 2021 in the amount of 9 752 000 lei.

At the same time, Marina Tauber is also accused that, in her capacity as vice-president of the political party “Shor”, in the interests of the political party, she knowingly accepted the financing of the political party from the “organized criminal group” led by Ilan Shor in the total amount of 195 518 013 lei, illicit financial sources that were integrated into the activity and maintenance of the party, in order to promote and achieve the interests of the “organized criminal group” in the political arena of the Republic of Moldova, to seize power in the state.

On 26 May 2023, deputies of the Moldovan Parliament approved the requests of the acting Prosecutor General to waive Marina Tauber’s immunity on three counts, depriving her of parliamentary immunity. Earlier, the Moldovan Parliament had also granted waiver of immunity on the fourth count in July 2022.

At this stage, the materials of the criminal case will be presented to the defendants and their lawyers, their requests and applications will be dealt with and the criminal case will be sent to court.

On 29 May 2023, the Chisinau Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Chisinau Ciocana Court, which extended the preventive measure of house arrest for a period of 20 days against Marina Tauber.