Police seize cash and documents in voter corruption case using mobile apps
On Thursday, September 11, police officers and prosecutors seized sums of money in various currencies, phones, laptops, bank documents, cards, and lists of individuals participating in the protests during 15 searches conducted in several locations across the country. These actions targeted a group of individuals with specific roles who allegedly attempted to corrupt voters for the benefit of the criminal organization "Sor" in anticipation of the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, as announced by the General Inspectorate of Police (IGP).
According to investigators, funds of dubious origin were transferred, converted, and distributed through the PSB mobile application of the Russian bank Promsvyazybank, which is currently under international sanctions.
The investigation revealed that members of the criminal organization installed the "Taito" application on citizens' phones, where individuals voluntarily entered personal data such as their identity, address, phone number, and personal code. This practice mirrors a method previously used through the PSB application, which was utilized for distributing funds in electoral campaigns and the referendum in the fall of 2024, according to the IGP statement.
Additionally, the investigation indicated that part of the financial resources was laundered through the Telegram application using a bot. The PSB application remains active on the phones of the organization's members, who access it via VPN. Instructions from the Russian Federation were shared in Telegram groups regarding the distribution and promotion of disinformation materials on social networks such as Facebook and TikTok.
The IGP notes, "The collected messages show that activists are encouraged to continue these activities, even while being aware of the associated risks."
Procedural actions are ongoing, and the individuals involved are cooperating with the criminal investigation.
Since the beginning of September this year, law enforcement officers have conducted approximately 200 searches in connection with cases involving the illegal financing of political parties, electoral corruption, and money laundering. As a result, over 20 individuals were detained.
During these searches, police and prosecutors have confiscated cash in both national and foreign currencies, along with phones, laptops, bank cards, documents, and lists of individuals implicated in the criminal scheme.
The investigations allegedly targeted activists from the "Heart of Moldova" Party, led by Irina Vlah, as well as members of the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, which includes Socialists, Communists, and supporters of the Heart and Future of Moldova.
