Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Octavian Armașu, was dismissed
The governor of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM), Octavian Armașu, was dismissed. A decision was approved during the Parliament session, with the vote of 81 deputies.
"The insufficient and defective activity of the National Bank of Moldova regarding the audit of the cases and persons involved in the "Bank fraud" file is noted, a fact that raises reasonable suspicions about the defective management of the collaboration of the BNM with the legal authorities in order to investigate the file", said the PAS deputy, Olesea Stamate.
We remind you that, today, December 21, hearings were held in the plenary session of the Parliament regarding the progress made in the "Bank Fraud" file. PAS deputies criticized the actions of the BNM governor for the recovery of stolen financial resources. In particular, the parliamentarians were dissatisfied with the fact that Armașu did not suspend the BNM employees who are accused in the "Bank Fraud" file. For his part, Octavian Armașu reasoned that he has the leverage to suspend the activity of the respective persons.
"The bank fraud certainly happened. No one doubts that. The bank fraud consists in defrauding three banks, through a fraudulent scheme. I don't know all the details because I didn't supervise the banks then. I was then active in the private sector, and now it belongs to the field of investigation. I cannot tell you the beneficiaries. Again, I don't have access to the investigation that the prosecutors are doing", said Octavian Armașu, in the plenary session of the Parliament.
After almost four hours of debate, PAS deputies demanded the resignation of the governor of BNM.
"As a result of today's hearings in the committee and in the plenary session of the Parliament, which showed serious problems in the activity of the BNM management, sabotage in the recovery of money, the employment and retention of people involved in bank fraud, and the obstruction of the investigation, we request your resignation, Mr. Octavian Armașu", PAS deputy Radu Marian wrote on his Telegram account.
Octavian Armașu took over the management of the National Bank of Moldova on November 30, 2018, for a term of 7 years. Armașu's candidacy was proposed by the president of the Parliament at the time, ex-democrat Adrian Candu. The proposal was supported by 54 deputies.
