Constantin Țuțu, close to the Bessarabian oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, sentenced to prison

Constantin Țuțu, close to the Bessarabian oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, was sentenced to eight years in prison, the sentence being pronounced in his absence for fraud, influence peddling and false statements.

Constantin Țuțu was absent from the court session. PHOTO: The Truth Archive

The Chisinau Court, based in the Buiucani sector, pronounced the sentence regarding Constantin Țuțu, a former deputy in the Chisinau Parliament during the period when the oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc controlled the Republic of Moldova. In addition to the eight years in prison, he was fined 450,000 Moldovan lei, i.e. around 23,000 euros, and he was banned from holding public office for a period of five years.

“Also, from the defendant's account, the confiscation for the benefit of the state of the amount of 2,000 euros was ordered, as assets resulting from the crime. The funds in the amount of 20,000 euros, recognized as the proceeds of crime, were returned to the injured party, and the civil action brought by it was partially admitted, and it was ordered to collect from the defendant the outstanding amount not returned from the amount of the civil action of 22,000 euros. The seizure applied to the defendant's assets was maintained in order to guarantee the execution of the civil action and the application of the special confiscation of the assets resulting from the criminal activity. As for the crime of forgery in statements (committed in two episodes), the ex-deputy was found guilty, but released from the criminal penalty in connection with the expiration the statute of limitations for prosecution. For the crime of illicit enrichment, the defendant was acquitted, on the grounds that his act did not meet the elements of the crime.” emphasized the officials of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office (PA) from Chisinau.

What did he commit

According to the evidence of the prosecution, the defendant Constantin Țuțu, holding the position of deputy, would have demanded the sum of 20,000 euros from the relatives of a handcuffed man in order for him to escape from the bars, but Țuțu would not have honored his promise.

“Because the promised influence was not achieved, he agreed to return the money, but kept the amount of 2,000 euros for the “cost of his services in order to influence the prosecutors”. Later, not knowing what solution the prosecutors from the Chisinau City Prosecutor's Office will adopt, he repeatedly demanded and received 20,000 euros from the relatives of the person in custody, so that the latter would be released. After the release of the person, his relatives found out that, in reality, the defendant did not exert any influence on the prosecutors of the Chisinau City Prosecutor's Office and requested the return of the money. Thus, the defendant returned the amount of 20,000 euros received later”the prosecutors explained.

Also, the former deputy was accused of having higher expenses than his income, and in the declarations of wealth for the years 2017-2018, he allegedly entered data that did not correspond to reality.

“On another charge, the amount of income made by the former deputy between December 2014 and December 2019 being contrasted by the prosecutors with the amount of expenses incurred by him for the same period, a substantial difference between income and expenses was found, the amount of expenses prevailing over the amount of income obtained by 3,556,857.22 lei, means that could not be obtained legally. On this charge, the accused was acquitted”the prosecution concluded.

The sentence can be appealed to the Central Court of Appeal within 15 days, and until the decision is final, the magistrates have ordered preventive arrest against the defendant.

He denies the allegations

Constantin Țuțu was absent from the meeting, but his lawyer, Ion Negura, emphasized that he, who declares himself innocent, will seek justice in the higher court.

“We did not expect such a sentence”, added the defense attorney.

Trapped in Greece

Former Moldovan deputy Constantin Țuțu was detained in July of last year, together with Vladimir Plahotniuc, in Greece. He was released in September by the authorities in Athens, and was later seen in the separatist region of Transnistria, while the oligarch was extradited to Chisinau and imprisoned.

And in October last year, Constantin Țuțu was handcuffed at the Vulcăneşti-Vinogradovka border crossing point, while trying to enter the Republic of Moldova, according to the border police.

He is also under criminal investigation in Russia, where he is accused of involvement in a drug trafficking network.

In the period 2014–2018, Constantin Țuțu was a deputy on the lists of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), a party led at the time by the fugitive oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc. After the change of government, in June 2019, the deputy fled the country, returning in March 2020, when he was detained at Leușeni-Albita Customs, after being put under international investigation.