Three people, investigated by the NAC and the APO, accused of fraudulently obtaining an apartment were sentenced to 8 and 7 years in prison and ordered to pay over 1.3 million lei

The Cahul Court, Central headquarters, sentenced three people, including a lawyer, for committing the crimes of making, possessing and using false official documents, as well as for fraud. Two people were sentenced to 8 years in prison, and the third – to 7 years. Each of the defendants was ordered to pay a fine of 450,000 lei. At the same time, the lawyer was deprived of the right to hold certain positions or exercise a certain economic activity for a period of up to 5 years.

All three defendants were also found guilty of making, possessing and using false official documents, but were released from criminal liability for this offense due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Until the final judgment, the court imposed on them the preventive measure “obligation not to leave the country”. The seizure of the assets of one of the defendants was also maintained.

According to the evidence accumulated by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (APO), the three allegedly acted together to illegally obtain an apartment that belonged to a close relative of one of them, although, according to the law, the apartment belonged to several legal heirs. Thus, the defendant, who was a lawyer, allegedly forged an official document, presented as a court decision confirming the acceptance of the inheritance only in favour of that person. The document contained the forged court stamp and the signature, also forged, of a judge.

Later, this false document was presented to a notary public, who issued a certificate of legal heir. After that, the apartment was quickly sold between the defendants and then to another person. In this way, the other legal heirs were excluded from the inheritance, causing them a damage of approximately 280,800 lei - an amount that represents the value of the inheritance shares of the three excluded legitimate descendants.

Although the defendants denied the facts throughout the trial, the court assessed the evidence administered and found them guilty.

The sentence is not final, it can be challenged by appeal to the Southern Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Note: The person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent as long as his guilt is not established by a final court decision.