A foreign citizen, criminally investigated by the NAC, was referred to justice for smuggling. CARA seized 16,595,000 hryvnias in the case

A foreign citizen, criminally investigated by the NAC, ended up in the dock after the criminal investigation regarding him was completed. The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office announced today the referral to the court for substantive examination of the criminal case accusing a foreign citizen of committing the crimes provided for in art. 30 in relation to art. 248 paragraph (7) letter c) and art. 27 related to 248 paragraph (7) letter c) of the Criminal Code.

The criminal prosecution of this case was started in March 2023, by the criminal investigation body of the National Anticorruption Center, and the grounds for the initiation of the investigation were the materials administered by the investigation officers within this institution.

Following the criminal investigation and special investigative measures carried out jointly with the officers of the National Anticorruption Center and the Security and Intelligence Service, it was found that the defendant, in an undetermined period of time, but no later than January 22, 2023, being outside the territory of the Republic of Moldova, pursuing the goal of obtaining financial benefits on the territory of Ukraine, as a result of the conversion of hryvnias at a more advantageous price than the procurement price on the territory of the Republic of Turkey, decided to introduce these financial means on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, with the subsequent removal through smuggling.

For this purpose, in the period from January 22, 2023 to March 4, 2023, the person introduced into the Republic of Moldova from the Republic of Turkey financial means in the amount of UAH 84,386,000.00, which were later smuggled out and introduced into the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, on May 6, 2023, under identical circumstances, he was to smuggle out Ukrainian hryvnias in particularly large proportions, but for reasons independent of his will, the criminal act was not carried out, being detained by the NAC employees.

The funds in the amount of 16,595,000.00 hryvnias, found and seized during the search, were seized for special confiscation by the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA).

The case was sent to the court for resolution according to the requirements of art. 508 - 509 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in the plea agreement procedure, or the person fully admitted the guilt in committing the incriminated acts.

In case the court accepts the plea agreement, the defendant will be sentenced according to the provisions of art. 80 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code (the limits of the punishment are reduced by one third), and the monetary means in the amount of 16,595. 000, 00 UAH, in accordance with the provisions of art. 106 of the Criminal Code and art. 162 paragraph (1) point 4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, are to be confiscated for the benefit of the state.

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