The Buiucani Court of Chisinau handed down a sentence on Monday, January 29, in the criminal case brought by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (AP), part of the “Bank Fraud” case, which concerns the actions of the former interim chairman of SA “Banca de Economii” (BEM) Viorel Bârca, accused of committing the crime of embezzlement of foreign assets, in particularly large proportions and in the interest of an organised criminal group (art. 191 (5) of the Criminal Code), the PA announced in a press release.

Asked by ZdG whether any preventive measure is currently applied against Bârca, PA representatives said that he is obliged not to leave the country.

Thus, by the sentence of 29 January 2024, the court found Viorel Bârca guilty of committing the crime of embezzlement of foreign assets in particularly large proportions for the benefit of a criminal group, establishing a sentence in the form of imprisonment for a term of 10 years, with the execution of the sentence in a closed penitentiary, with deprivation of the right to hold positions in the banking financial sector for a term of 5 years.

At the same time, the civil action was upheld and the material damage in the amount of 100 million dollars, converted into national currency at the official exchange rate of the Moldovan leu valid on the date of execution of the sentence, was ordered to be recovered from the account of the convicted person for the benefit of SA “Banca de Economii”, which was in the process of liquidation.

The court maintained the seizure of ½ of the assets belonging to the convicted person, amounting to approximately 4 million lei, in order to guarantee the recovery of the damage.

Legal costs amounting to RON 32 550 were also charged to the convicted person’s account on behalf of the State.

The criminal case was separated from the criminal case under investigation, which includes the theft of assets in the period 2013-2014 in the amount of 100 million dollars, which belonged to SA “Banca de Economii” by a criminal group that includes public persons, persons in public office, individuals and legal entities.

According to the materials, the convicted person, in the period from July 2013 to September 2014, holding the position of acting president of SA “Banca de Economii”, being a member of the criminal group and acting in the interests of this group, having the duties of organizing the bank’s activity and ensuring the rational use of financial funds of Banca de Economii SA, forged 7 SWIFT orders – (payment orders made through the international payment system) and, being a co-perpetrator, stole from the financial institution, funds in the amount of 100 million dollars.

On March 11, 2021, the criminal case against the former acting chairman of the Savings Bank was sent to the Buiucani Court of Chisinau for examination. The trial of the case lasted 3 years, as the defendant did not admit his guilt of committing the incriminated act.

The sentence can be appealed to the Chisinau Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Bârca is also being investigated in a criminal case for fraud, pending before the Buiucani court in Chisinau.

ZdG previously reported, after analyzing the indictment in the case against Dorin Drăguțanu, governor of the National Bank from 2009-2016, that on November 6, 2014, Viorel Bîrcă, acting president of BEM, who allegedly acted at the direction of Ilan Șor, took two interbank loans in the amount of 8 and 10 million euros from Moldova Agroindbank and Moldindconbank.

Nearly $14 million of this money was allegedly used for the purchase of Victoriabank shares by Insidown LTD, after several transactions without financial backing between companies controlled by Shor.