Andrei Neguta, Moldova's ambassador to the Russian Federation during 2017-2020, was acquitted in the case in which he was accused of smuggling anabolic steroids, IPN reports.
The decision was pronounced by the Ștefan-Vodă branch of the Căușeni Court. The court found that his acts did not constitute elements of a crime. Ion Grendaci, who was tried in the same case, was also acquitted.
The court ruled that both Andrei Neguta and Ion Grendaci have the right to compensation in accordance with the law on damage caused by the unlawful actions of the criminal prosecution bodies, the prosecutor's office and courts.
On December 5, 2020, following a customs check in Palanca, prohibited anabolic steroids were discovered in a minibus of Moldova’s Embassy in Russia. The driver was arrested. A few days later, on December 9, Andrei Neguta was recalled. The then Prime Minister Ion Chicu said that the Government decision was taken following the "shameful act" witnessed. President Igor Dodon also said that this case is a shame and, if the ambassador is guilty, he should be fired and held accountable.
On December 28, 2020, Negruța appeared, together with his lawyers, before the PCCOCS prosecutors, where he was questioned over the smuggling of anabolic steroids, being suspected of complicity. He denied that he had any involvement in the case. However, the prosecutors decided to detain him and, two days later, the court placed him under house arrest. A year after his arrest, in December 2021, the case was sent to court.
