Interior Minister on Riscani Murder: Suspect Still in Moldova

The main suspect in the Chisinau murder case could not leave the country, he is still in Moldova. This was stated by Interior Minister Adrian Efros on the air of the Cutia neagră programme on TV8 on 11 July. Law enforcement continues to search for the suspect. “The murder was a contract killing. We are working and doing everything possible to find and detain this man as soon as possible. According to our operational data, he is still on the territory of Moldova. In this regard, colleagues from the General Inspectorate of Border Police have been notified and notices have been sent out. Controls at all border posts have been reinforced,” Interior Minister Adrian Efros told TV8. Interior Minister said that there are also reinforced checks at the entrances to the Transnistrian region. Additional patrols have been set up. Adrian Efros noted that the police received a large number of photos and videos, thanks to which law enforcers were able to establish the suspect’s path. On 10 July, a murder took place in the Riscani district of the capital. A foreigner sitting on the terrace was shot seven times by a man travelling by on an electric scooter. The victim died on the spot, and the shooter fled the scene. According to the police, the victim was a 41-year-old Turkish national. The man was a member of a criminal group and was on an international wanted list at the request of the UK authorities. He was accused of smuggling and heroin trafficking. The possibility of a contract killing is being considered. The police notes that the killer was well prepared and knew exactly where and at what time his victim would be. He faces up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment for the murder. Next week, Parliament will hold hearings with representatives of all responsible institutions on the murder. The key question is how a member of a criminal group, who was repeatedly detained in Moldova and wanted by the UK through Interpol, remained at large and eventually fell victim to an assassination. The head of the police Viorel Cernauteanu said that at this stage police has several suspects. Two possible accomplices of the crime have been detained. But the police still do not know anything about the identity of the shooter. It is known that the suspect came to Moldova from Ukraine in May 2022.