Six persons were arrested by the police on suspicion of real estate scams, trafficking in persons and  deprivation of liberty. The victims of the swindlers were persons from socially deprived groups and persons with disabilities from the municipality of Chisinau who owned realty and had debts for public utilities. The damage caused to the victims was estimated at over 8 million lei, IPN reports.

According to the General Police Inspectorate, searches were carried out at the homes and in the cars of the suspects on December 4. The persons are suspected of being involved in at least 15 cases of swindle. The suspects promised the victims better living conditions and persuaded them to have their apartments in Chisinau exchanged for homes in villages, with the complete clearance of the debts for public utilities.

In reality, after selling the apartments based on the power of attorney, the victims were transported to the Transnistrian region where they were forced to work in the fields without being remunerated and weren’t allowed to leave. Others had to beg. One of the victims who reached retirement was deprived of old-age pension as the culprits collected the money regularly from the post office based on the power of attorney. Another victim was forced to commit a real estate scam together with some of the members of the criminal group under threats.