The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) announced on Wednesday, July 27, that the criminal case against the former head of the State Protection and Guard Service (SPPS) Iaroslav Martin, about whom ZdG previously wrote that he sewed his general’s uniform adorned with gold threads on order, has reached the table of the magistrates of the Buiucani Court of Chisinau for examination on the merits.

“Criminal investigations on this case are carried out within the limits of criminal procedural legislation, with respect for all rights and freedoms of the person concerned, ensuring the principle of presumption of innocence, confidentiality of criminal prosecution, respect for privacy and personal data,” the PA said.

On 13 July this year, prosecutors filed charges against the former director of the State Protection and Security Service Iaroslav Martin, accusing him of organising forgery of public documents.

In February, Martin was indicted for exceeding his official duties. According to the PA, he is suspected that in 2019-2020, while he was head of the SPPS, he exceeded his service duties and concluded a contract with an economic agent through which he bought badges. Thus, according to prosecutors, Martin allegedly damaged SPPS with 190 772 lei.

Earlier, ZdG wrote that, after leaving office, Iaroslav Martin sued the institution he headed and demanded the return of the money withheld from his dismissal by the SPPS for the special equipment, including a custom-made general’s suit adorned with gold threads. In the application for a writ of summons sent to the Chisinau Court of Justice, Centre Court, Iaroslav Martin is seeking the recovery from the SPPS account of over 66 thousand lei, including the 37.8 thousand lei withheld by the SPPS for the clothing items.

On 30 December 2020, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, signed the decree removing Iaroslav Martin from the position of head of SPPS.