Former Democratic Party MP Constantin Tutu received an eight-year prison sentence with immediate enforcement in a case involving illicit enrichment and influence peddling. The court also fined him 450,000 lei and banned him from holding public office for five years.
The court delivered the ruling on January 27, 2026, in Tutu’s absence. Judges acquitted him on one charge and found him guilty on three other counts.
Tutu’s lawyer said the defense did not expect such a sentence.
“We did not expect such a ruling. We partially agree with the acquittal under Article 330, illicit enrichment. However, we do not agree with the conviction under Articles 326 and 190 of the Criminal Code, as these offenses exclude one another. The court’s reasoning is very interesting. We will analyze it and, of course, the defense will exercise its right to appeal the decision to the Chisinau Court of Appeal. We do not agree with it,” the lawyer said.
The lawyer also said he does not know why Constantin Tutu refused to appear in court.
“The request cited personal reasons. I do not know the details,” he added.
The prosecutor in the case said the prosecution has not yet decided whether it will appeal the sentence.
“The Anti Corruption Prosecutor’s Office will study the ruling and the reasoning behind the acquittal of defendant Tutu. After that, we will decide whether to contest the sentence,” the prosecutor stated.
Authorities detained Constantin Tutu on October 2, 2025, at the Vulcanesti border crossing while he entered the Republic of Moldova from Ukraine. Investigators say he appeared voluntarily at the border and, through intermediaries, tried to persuade customs officers to allow him to enter the country without inspection.
Afterward, authorities placed the former Democratic MP in pre trial detention at Prison No. 13. Greek authorities had previously detained him in late July in Athens together with Vlad Plahotniuc, but later released him from custody.