Chișinău Court sentences four for adolescent sexual exploitation

Four individuals have been sentenced to prison terms of 16, 17, and 20 years for the sexual exploitation of seven adolescents and the facilitation of prostitution for nine young women in Chișinău. The sentences were handed down by the Chișinău Court following an investigation by the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS).

The criminal group, consisting of men aged 29 to 35 from Dondușeni, Ialoveni, and Râbnița, operated throughout 2021. Prosecutors stated the group organized housing, transportation, and online advertisements to exploit victims, some of whom were as young as 14. The perpetrators allegedly lured victims with promises of high earnings, but most of the money was seized by the group members. Victims were reportedly given only about 200 lei per day for personal expenses.

The group leader, sentenced to 20 years, allegedly used intimidation tactics, including meeting victims in forests or cemeteries and threatening them with a pistol during police investigations.