Prosecutors and officers of the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) are investigating several individuals in Chisinau suspected of unlawfully dispossessing a company of a maritime vessel valued at 26 million US dollars.
Law enforcement officers conducted searches at the homes and offices of several founders and administrators of resident companies involved in managing the vessel’s operations.
According to prosecutors, one of the individuals carried out economic activity in partnership with others and was allegedly misled within a ship sale scheme. He was reportedly persuaded to conclude a surety agreement with a person designated by the organizers.
Under the arrangement, the designated individual was to formally act as the de jure beneficiary of a legal entity, while serving the interests of the de facto beneficiary, who held a share in the company’s charter capital. Based on these agreements, the maritime vessel — a major asset — was to be transferred back at the request of the de facto beneficiary.
However, prosecutors state that the designated person ignored the de facto beneficiary’s requests and, acting on instructions from other members of the group, illegally sold the vessel, depriving him of the share to which he was entitled.
As a result of the scheme, ownership of the vessel was transferred to another economic agent. The investigation continues, and authorities are working to establish all circumstances of the alleged offense.