Prosecutors have requested that the charges against former Moldovan President Igor Dodon be amended and aggravated in the so-called “Black Bag” case, currently being heard by the Supreme Court of Justice.
The request follows the examination of additional evidence and the questioning of witnesses during the trial. Dodon’s defense has asked for one month to study the prosecutors’ new order.
According to case prosecutor Petru Iarmaliuc, the revised indictment takes into account evidence examined during the court proceedings, including a video recording from June 7 featuring Dodon and former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc.
Although the well-known black bag does not appear in that particular recording, prosecutors argue that the conversation between the two men indicates a request for another sum of money. The prosecution says the recording was already part of the case file, but the charges are being amended only now following a further examination of the evidence in court.
“The evidence presented, including additional evidence, was examined, including evidence concerning 161 deceased people in whose names payment slips were issued in June and July, allegedly showing that membership fees had been paid, as well as 585 people who were abroad at the time the membership fees were allegedly recorded,” Petru Iarmaliuc said.
The prosecution is therefore also referring to evidence concerning alleged party contributions made in the names of people who had died or were outside the country at the time.
The revised charges reportedly concern, among other things, an alleged payment of 750,000 euros that prosecutors say Dodon requested from Plahotniuc.
Dodon rejects the accusations and has repeatedly described the case as politically motivated. He argues that prosecutors do not have sufficient evidence and disputes the authenticity of the video evidence.
“Now, when the case has reached its final stage, and I was supposed to give my testimony, the Prosecutor’s Office is suddenly changing the wording of the charges,” Dodon said.
The former president has also claimed that the video presented by prosecutors as key evidence is not the original recording and was allegedly altered. He has argued that the footage was presented selectively and that the audio track was superimposed on the video.
Those claims have previously been challenged by the findings of a forensic examination cited in public reports on the case. According to information concerning an examination conducted by experts from Moldova’s National Centre of Forensic Expertise, no traces of editing or manipulation were identified in the recordings examined.
Dodon has also alleged that the prosecution relies on statements by people loyal to Vladimir Plahotniuc and accused the authorities of deliberately prolonging the proceedings.
The former president also criticized Supreme Court judge Vladislav Gribincea, alleging a lack of impartiality, and said his lawyers were considering submitting another motion to recuse the judge.
The defense has requested additional time to examine the amended charges. The next hearing is scheduled for November 3.
Igor Dodon is being tried in the “Black Bag” case on charges including passive corruption and accepting party financing from a criminal organization. He denies all allegations.