A former judge was found guilty of knowingly pronouncing two decisions contrary to the law in the “Laundromat” case. The court orders issued by the defendant in the civil cases had considerable financial consequences – $180 million and $610 million, respectively. Although he was found guilty, the former judge was released from criminal liability in connection with the expiration of the statute of limitations, IPN reports.

The criminal case was started in September 2016 by the Prosecutor General. According to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, in 2010, the convict, serving as a judge, issued a decision contrary to the law in a civil case, at the request of a company based in the United Kingdom. The decision referred to the collection of a debt in the amount of $180 million, jointly and severally, from the debtors: a natural person residing in the Republic of Moldova and two companies based in the Russian Federation.

In the second episode, through the same scheme, in March 2013, the judge issued another ruling against the law, in another civil case, at the request of a UK-based company. This time he ordered the collection of a debt in the amount of $610 million, jointly and severally, from the debtors: an individual residing in the Republic of Moldova, a company based in the Republic of Seychelles and four companies based in the Russian Federation.

The judge issued a court order to collect the debt in the amount of $180 million and $610 million for the benefit of the creditor – the foreign/non-resident company based in the United Kingdom - despite the lack of valid legal documents attesting the powers of attorney of the creditor’s representative. Also, the judge ignored the fact that the rest of the documents attached to the file were not properly authenticated, as well as legalized. Thus, the defendant ignored the legal procedures when pronouncing the court decision.

The criminal investigation lasted about four months, while the trial lasted more than seven years, being examined by a general procedure. The defendant denied any wrongdoing.

At the same time, the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office noted that “the recognition of the guilt of the ex-judge involved in the criminal case “Laundromat” is an essential step in restoring the integrity of the judicial system in the Republic of Moldova. This decision contributes to clarifying the circumstances and responsibilities within one of the most complex and extensive money laundering schemes, having a significant impact both nationally and internationally, regarding this complex scheme, which laundered over $22 billion through the banking and judicial systems of the Republic of Moldova”.