The Chisinau District Court has pronounced the sentence in the criminal case referred to the justice by the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, regarding the actions of a former President of the Basketball Federation of the Republic of Moldova (BFRM), accused of committing a fraud.

The criminal case was started in February 2016 by the National Anticorruption Center, and according to the materials, the President of the Basketball Federation of the Republic of Moldova, in 2014, organized a scheme for the illegal acquisition and embezzlement of assets of a foreign company, owned by a citizen of the Slovak Republic, as a result of the misrepresentation regarding the construction of a multifunctional sports complex in the municipality of Chisinau (on land that did not belong to it). Thus, as a result of the defendant's actions, the company owned by the Slovakian citizen was caused an effective patrimonial damage in the amount of 210 thousand euros, which constitutes particularly large proportions.

The trial of the case lasted more than 7 years, the case being examined in the general procedure, as the person did not admit his guilt in committing the incriminated acts.

By sentence of November 21, 2023, the court found the former President of BFRM guilty of committing the crime of fraud, sentencing him to 8 years in prison, with the order to serve the sentence in a closed penitentiary, as well as with the deprivation of the right to occupy public functions and to exercise activity in the public sphere for a period of 3 years. At the same time, the equivalent in lei of the amount of 175 thousand euros was collected from his account, for the benefit of the civil party.

Two other defendants in this case were found guilty of aiding and abetting the crime, being acquitted of criminal liability in connection with the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The sentence can be appealed to the Chisinau Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Note: A person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.