Over 8 million lei in Drochia for the illegal financing of the 'Șor' party and the mobilization of protesters.
Art. 181² CC – Acceptance of funding from an organized criminal group or a criminal organization (association). Location: Drochia-Chisinau
Factual summary
Coștei Dumitru, as the president of the Territorial Organization Drochia of the Political Party “Șor”, contributed to the acceptance of illegal financing of the party from the organized criminal group led by Ilan Șor.
During the period from 24.07.2022 to 16.10.2022, he organized the mobilization and transportation of individuals from the Drochia district to the protests organized by PP “Șor” in Chișinău, including by transmitting lists of participants, lists of means of transport, and photographs regarding the boarding of protesters.
The mobilized individuals were usually paid 400 lei/day, and the transport was covered from undeclared financial resources received through couriers.
Separately, during the period from 18.09.2022 to 16.10.2022, Coștei Dumitru was responsible for the record-keeping and transmission of lists for individuals in tents in the “City of Change”, indicating 62 individuals from the Drochia district, paid 200 USD for 48 hours, totaling 179,800 USD, equivalent to 3,496,924 lei.
In total, the amount of illegal financing attributed to his actions was 8,145,419.48 lei
Other property measures: None were applied
Court Decision
First court: Conviction
Sanctions and measures
Imprisonment with execution. Imprisonment: 60 months (suspended sentence)
Financial indicators
CRJM expert observation
The case was tried in the court of first instance in general procedure. The defendant did not admit his guilt. In order to reach the conviction decision, the court of first instance examined several pieces of evidence (results of examinations, searches, special investigative measures, etc.), including hearing 28 witnesses. The case is relevant for judicial practice as it addresses acts of electoral corruption that took place in 2022, including revealing methods of using money accepted from the organized criminal group “Șor” (organizing and remunerating individuals to participate in protests, remunerating members of the PP “Șor”), the amount paid to each person for participating in protests, as well as communication methods for the preparation and prolonged commission of the acts.
Case timeline
Specific protests:
24.07.2022 — 398 persons / 142,700 lei;
23.08.2022 — 387 persons / 147,600 lei;
02.09.2022 — 754 persons / 377,000 lei;
09.09.2022 — 808 persons / 543,755.60 lei;
18.09.2022 — 1,075 persons / 765,152.32 lei;
25.09.2022 — 1,074 persons / 763,340.60 lei;
02.10.2022 — 873 persons / 615,669.84 lei;
09.10.2022 — 984 persons / 671,487.80 lei;
16.10.2022 — 914 persons / 621,789.32 lei.
From 18.09.2022 to 16.10.2022 — additionally, Coștei Dumitru was responsible for the registration, verification, confirmation, and transmission of lists of individuals in tents in the "City of Change"; 62 persons from the Drochia district were indicated, paid 200 USD for 48 hours, over 29 days, totaling 179,800 USD / 3,496,924 lei.
On 20.10.2022 — the actions were interrupted before he received from the courier the package with financial means amounting to 582,800 lei, intended for the Drochia district.
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| Case no. | 1a-596/26 |
| PIGD no. | 1-25037532-02-1a-22052026 |
| Court | Chișinău Court, Buiucani seat |
| Started | 24.07.2022 |
| Verdict | 21.04.2026 |
| Case duration | 3 years, 8 months |
| Judges | Adrian Clevada · Judecătoria Criuleni, sediul Central, Liliana Cușcă · Judecătoria Chișinău, sediul Buiucani |
| Prosecutor | Oxana Beltei |
| Lawyer | Jaman Constantin |
Art. 181² CP – Acceptance of funding from an organized criminal group or a criminal organization (association); art. 30, art. 42 para. (5), art. 45, art. 181² para. (5) of the Penal Code; suspended sentence (art.90), special confiscation (106 Penal Code)
