Moldovan ex-defense minister cleared in arms smuggling case
18:3616/07/2009 CHISINAU, July 16 (RIA Novosti) - The Chisinau Chamber of Appeals on Thursday cleared a former Moldovan defense minister, Valery Pasat, of the unlawful sales of Russian-made warplanes and rocket launchers, his lawyer said.
Pasat was arrested in March 2005. The prosecution alleged that Pasat closed an illegal deal in 1997 to sell 21 MiG-29 Fulcrum warplanes to the United States, causing the state $53 million in losses. Pasat was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Pasat was also charged with selling Uragan multiple rocket launching systems to an unnamed foreign country, resulting in $1.8 million losses to the state.
Pasat was released from custody under a general amnesty in 2007.
The latest hearing was initiated by both the defense and the prosecution.
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