On Thursday, March 11, the Prosecutor’s Office conducted searches at the home and office of the former administrator of the Banca de Economii, Ion Ropot who is also the head of a department of the National Bank of Moldova. The searches took place within the investigation of the billion-dollar bank fraud case and Ion Ropot was detained based on suspicion of abuse of office. On March 12, the Chișinău Court issued a 30-day arrest warrant on Ion Ropot.

According to the law, abuse of office committed in the interest of a criminal organization is punishable by imprisonment from 3 to 8 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for a term of 10 to 15 years. The National Bank of Moldova leadership reacted after the Prosecutor’s Office conducted the searches and stated that they will contribute to the investigation, will fully cooperate by offering the necessary materials. 

In April 2020, the prosecutors carried out searches at the headquarters of the National Bank of Moldova that resulted in the detention of a current and former deputy governor, Ion Sturzu and Emma Tabîrță, as well as a head of a department and the former head of the National Bank,  Dorin Drăguțanu. They were suspected of participating in fraud and money laundering, both crimes committed in particularly large proportions.