Scheme with Maxcom mobile phones and accounts in the PSB application for determining voters to vote in favor of a certain electoral competitor.
Art. 181¹ CC – Electoral corruption. Locality: Criuleni district
Factual summary
The accused, acting as an executor, allegedly urged voters to participate in meetings of the “Victory” bloc, then offered Maxcom mobile phones worth about 1,500 lei/unit and assistance for PSB accounts, subsequently transferring 30,000 Russian rubles for each, approximately equivalent to 5,400 lei, with the aim of influencing the vote in favor of the “Victory” bloc/PP “Chance” and the “NO” option in the constitutional referendum on 20.10.2024.
Other property measures: 4 mobile phones forcibly and free of charge transferred to the state account; in appeal, the solution of the first instance was upheld
Court Decision
First instance: Conviction
Appeal: Appeal dismissed as unfounded; The decision of the Criuleni Court, Central office, no. 1-4/2025 of 19.08.2025 upheld without changes. The decision is enforceable. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Review: Not applicable / unknown
Financial indicators
CRJM expert observation
Relevant case for the practice of art. 181¹ para. (1) of the Criminal Code regarding electoral “goods/services,” not just money: the courts treated Maxcom phones, the installation of the PSB application, and assistance for PSB accounts as relevant benefits for electoral corruption. The appeal criticized the lack of direct evidence and contradictions among witnesses; however, the Court of Appeal upheld the reasoning of the first court, stating that the evidence is pertinent, conclusive, and corroborated. Evidentiary observation: the decision confirms a deferential approach to the assessment of evidence by the first court and maintains the formal nature of the offense.
Case timeline
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| Case no. | 1-4/2025; apel: 1a-911/25, recurs: 01-720/26 |
| PIGD no. | 01-720/26 |
| Court | Criuleni Court, Central Office; on appeal: Central Court of Appeal |
| Started | 01.07.2024 |
| Verdict | 19.08.2025 |
| Case duration | 1 year, 1 month |
| Judges | Nu Este Cazul / Necunoscut, Andrei Cazacicov, Vitalie Budeci, Adrian Clevada · Judecătoria Criuleni, sediul Central, Eugeniu Beșelea |
| Prosecutors | În Fond: Alexandru Pulbere, Liviu Druguțan. În Apel: Alexandru Plîngău |
| Lawyer | Dumitru Marco |
Art. 181¹ CC – Electoral corruption; Art. 181¹ para. (1) of the Criminal Code; art. 106 Criminal Code