THIS MAN'S ABOUT TO GET ELECTED AFTER A $1 BILLION BANK FRAUD, BLOOMBERG WRITES OF ILAN SHOR

The American news agency wrote that last year, the Israel-born businessman was sentenced to seven years and six months in jail for his alleged part in a $1 billion bank fraud in Moldova that cost its taxpayers the equivalent of 12 percent of the economy.

"Still, free on bail while he appeals his conviction, Shor is now a popular city mayor. He denies benefiting from the fraudВ and has named a political party after himselfВ to run inВ this weekend's parliamentary election", wrote Bloomberg.

The agency further wrote that Shor denies benefiting from the fraud, which he blamesВ on others. In a response to written questions sent over Whatsapp, he cast doubt over the Kroll report's findings and said he'sВ willing toВ help them trace the missing money if they come to see him in Moldova, saying: "Guys, I am ready to help you, come and I will show you, with documents, bills and bank account numbers, who has the money you couldn't find and where".

The 2014 scandal Moldovans call "the theft of the century" laid bare the nation's fragile relationship with democracy, redrew its political map and still shapes attitudes ahead of this weekend's vote, said the Bloomberg article.

"Shor, meanwhile, has been able to drum up support on the strength of his time as mayor of Orhei, a neglected town of 20,000 just north of the capital. He's used some of his fortune to build playgrounds and restore basic services such as trash collection and street lighting. That and the country's busiest campaign staff should be enough to get him into Moldova's parliament", wrote Bloomberg.