An appeals court in Chisinau on April 14 rejected an appeal by Moldovan businessman and politician Ilan Shor in a case linked to the theft of $1 billion in bank assets, and instead increased his sentence. Shor, the head of a pro-Russian political party bearing his name, is currently in Israel. The court of appeals doubled the original 7 1/2-year sentence he was handed for his involvement in the theft of funds from three of Moldova's largest banks. While his appeal against that sentence was under way, Shor managed to flee Moldova for Israel and the appeal was heard in absentia. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.