ZdG collage                          

The man who allegedly ordered the blackmail of a former business partner, detained on Thursday, August 17, in Chisinau, is the manager of a parking lot affiliated to former Democratic MP Vladimir Andronachi, on trial in the “Bank Fraud” case, according to ZdG sources. ZdG has learned that the person detained is Vadim Chirpii, the administrator of the “Dream Auto” car park in Chisinau. The company deals with the sale of cars.                       

Vadim Chirpii is also accused of embezzlement of foreign wealth in another criminal case that has been on the table of the magistrates of the Chisinau Court, Buiucani seat, since spring 2021.                       

The man owns a company, created in July 2015, which carries out car trading, rental and leasing activities. “Chirpii Auto” SRL has its legal address in the “Dream Auto” parking lot.                     

The “Dream Auto” car business has previously come to the attention of the press. TV8 wrote in July 2022 that “Chisinau City Hall risks losing hectares of land because of a law applied erroneously” and that the beneficiary was former MP Andronachi.                    

“Dream Auto” SRL was founded in October 2013, by Webwest Alliance LTD, an offshore company, and was initially managed by Carolina Andriuta – Vladimir Andronachi’s lawyer. In the autumn of 2015, the company changed its name to “Hidroenergie Cons” SRL, and the founder and administrator became Fiodor Vasilcov, the father of the ex-deputy’s wife.                   

According to information published on Friday, August 18, by law enforcement officials, Vadim Chirpii would have received illegally, since 2019, more than 5 000 000 lei, after blackmailing a former business partner, with the help of two “thieves in law”, one from Georgia and another from Moldova – Ivan Șoltoianu.               

According to the General Police Inspectorate (IGP), the crime began while the victim was serving his sentence in Cricova prison for a swindle.             

At the time, according to the authorities, in April 2023, the sportsman Ivan Șoltoianu, who was serving his sentence for murder, allegedly threatened the man and his family with physical violence and death. The extortion continued after he had served his prison sentence, involving a suspect from Georgia – a “thief in law,” who is to be announced as a wanted person by the Moldovan authorities, according to the IGP.                          

The victim is 45 years old and the joint business he had with the suspect detained Thursday was in the car-parking business.                         

“The disagreement started from certain debts, which although they were returned, the financial claims took the illegal form of blackmail, based on various customs in the criminal world. Therefore, after the suspect had illegally obtained the more than 5 000 000 lei – both in cash and on account of luxury cars – the victim denounced him”, informs the police.               

Following the search of the suspect’s home in Chisinau, he was detained and PCCOCS prosecutors presented him with the charge and requested that he be placed in preventive custody, in order to pursue the investigations objectively and hold accountable all those guilty of committing this blackmail.                          

Earlier, the organiser of the blackmail – the head of the criminal organisation “Nicu Patron” – was also put on the case. Investigations are continuing, during which time the persons concerned are presumed innocent by law.                      

The sportsman Ivan Șoltoianu was placed in custody in the spring. He is also a defendant in the case of the physical assault of a man walking his dog in the Botanica sector of Chisinau in March 2022. The sentence on that case has been challenged by the PCCOCS prosecutor and the Chisinau Court of Appeal is due to rule.