Chisinau, October 18 (Infotag). George Amihalachioae and Alexandru Tanase, the lawyers of Victoriabank Chairman Victor Turcanu, have lodged with the Appeals Court a complaint against the unfounded detention of their client.

The lawyers convened a news conference in Infotag today claiming Victor Turcanu is innocent, and his detention could well be a provocation. The prominent banker is being accused of accepting a $15,000 bribe from lawyer Dorel Turcan, who is said to have been acting as a go-between for a company named Fratii Nichifor which sought to receive a $550,000 credit from Victoriabank.

“The last week’s police information – that Victor Turcanu had, allegedly, been caught on the crime site – is not true. It was lawyer Dorel Turcan who was detained at accepting the said $15,000 from the above-mentioned company. As for banker Victor Turcanu, he was caught on October 12 evening in the street when he was going home after work. His car was halted, his driver was bruised up, and Turcanu was delivered to the Center for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption”, explained George Amihalachioae.

In his words, Dorel Turcan really asked the banker beforehand to help obtain such a huge loan on privileged terms, and hinted the banker’s kindness would be remunerated. In response, the Victoriabank Chairman said a firm no, and “even used a rough language against the visitor”.

Amihalachioae is not ruling out Victor Turcanu has fallen victim to a conflict that broke out between Victoriabank shareholders in May 2005, when 28.6% of the bank’s stocks came to be held by 5 companies, including 3 foreign ones. In Amihalachioae’s words, some of the new shareholders even threatened Victor Turcanu if only he refuses to obey their orders.

Alexandru Tanase also sees no legal grounds for keeping Victor Turcanu in custody, for he can certainly give evidence to investigators while staying at large.

The lawyers drew journalists’ attention to the poor state of Turcanu’s health that does not permit to keep him behind bars. Since 1988, the bank chairman has been Group II invalid suffering a leg illness. In addition, Turcanu got into a heavy car accident last month, received a severe head injury, and his arm is still in gypsum.

Tanase stated the living conditions in which Victor Turcanu is being kept in remand prison fail to meet international requirements. If the Appeals Court does not meet the lawyers’ challenge within 3 days, they will lodge an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights asking its immediate interference into the case.