Former vice president of Ascom-Grup Andrei Bashtovoi is the victim of a plot that involves the owner of Ascom-Grup Anatol Stati and the Moldovan law enforcement bodies of the highest rank, said his lawyer. On the other hand, representatives of Ascom-Grup say Bashtovoi was justly convicted of serious swindles and murder attempt in the period when he coordinated Ascom’s projects in Sudan, IPN reports.
Lawyer Roman Zadoinov told a news conference that the conviction decision passed by the Buiucani court was arbitrary and illegal. The evidence against his client was manufactured, while the conditions in which Andrei Bashtovoi is held are inhuman.
“A former employee of the company’s security manufactured everything. He persuaded a person to finance the assassination of managers of Ascom, but when this person refused, Bashtovoi was arrested. My client has no connection with the things incriminating him. It is evident that the Ministry of the Interior and the Prosecutor General’s Office are involved in this case. All our proofs were hushed up, while their witnesses were bought,” said Roman Zadoinov.
Contacted by IPN, general coordinator for projects in Southern Sudan Vitalie Diaconu said the accusations made in the news conference are unserious.
“There are proofs in original about the involvement of Andrei Bashtovoi in appropriation schemes as a result of which the company lost millions of U.S. dollars. He and his accomplices should now receive the deserved punishment,” said Vitalie Diaconu, adding that the company wants to recover the damage.
“The evidence in this case was confirmed by the Ministry of Justice of Sudan and by the Embassy of Sudan in Romania. The witnesses, including the bank’s representatives, presented real proofs showing that the money was illegally taken out. The Bashtovoi family and the lawyers avoid discussing the economic part of the case and presenting documents concerning the appropriated money, which they possess.”
Vitalie Diaconu referred to a number of cases showing that Andrei Bashtovoi, together with accomplices, stole millions of dollars from the company’s accounts.
The ex-vice president of Ascom-Grup Andrei Bashtovoi was sentenced to nine years in jail. His son Valentin and another two former employees of the company got by eight years. Andrei Bashtovoi appealed the decision to the Chisinau Appeals Court. The first hearing was set for March 18.
