ALDE official Culai sentenced for illicit party funding
Adrian Culai, the former Secretary-General of the ALDE party (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe), has been handed a four-year suspended sentence after admitting he accepted money from a group led by Ilan Șor to fund the political party, the Prosecutor's Office announced.
On June 25, the Chișinău Court, Buiucani headquarters, validated Culai's plea agreement with prosecutors, sentencing him to 4 years imprisonment, suspended for a probation period of 1 year, a fine of 200,000 lei, and a 7-year ban from managing financial activities in political parties.
In the same case, the court ordered the confiscation of $20,000 USD and a mobile phone, identified as instruments of the crime.
Culai cooperated with investigators, stating that in June 2023, Ilan Șor instigated him to take over a political party with a pro-European facade to mask the criminal group's interests. Subsequently, he took over the Democratic Action Party, renamed ALDE, and was appointed Secretary-General with financial responsibilities.
In August 2023, Culai knowingly accepted $452,700 USD (over 8 million lei) from Șor's group. The funds were intended for consolidating the party and participating in upcoming elections. He admitted he was promised a monthly salary of €10,000 and a $100,000 bonus if the party secured at least 5% of the votes in the local elections.
The case was separated from a broader investigation that still includes two other individuals, including Ilan Șor. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is conducting the investigation, with support from the NAC and SIS.
The sentence can be appealed within 15 days at the Chișinău Court of Appeal.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
