Synthesis: Three people, documented in influence peddling files on the completion of driving licenses and assets of over 2 million lei, seized by CARA of NAC

The National Anti-corruption Centre has reported several searches in influence peddling files for the issuance of driver's licenses, last week, but also a decision of the Balti Court of Appeal that changed the repressive measure regarding the 3 officials of the Soroca town hall, previously detained by the NAC in a dossier of rigged tenders.

In the first case, a Chisinau citizen would have received a bribe of 10,000 lei for obtaining a driver's license. Claiming that he would have influence over some public officials within the Medical Commission of Drivers of the Ialoveni District Hospital, the suspect allegedly demanded and received from a person the sum of 10,000 lei to help him obtain the mandatory medical certificate for the right to drives means of transport. He would also have organized the issuance of the schooling certificate without the holder of the document attending the courses. In the second case, two people from the north of the country were detained for demanding and receiving 1,500 euros from a person, after allegedly having influence over public figures within the Balti Office of Registration of Transport Means and Driver’s Documentation (SÎVDCA) and that it can cause them to favour a candidate for the category B driver's license in the exams. The suspects were detained after returning the amount received - a fact documented by the NAC in a criminal case initiated under art. 326 of the criminal code - "trafficking in influence". At the moment, 8 people, arrested in the NAC files, are placed in prisons and 5 people are under house arrest. During the reference period, criminal investigation officers opened 11 criminal cases.

Also, last week, the Balti Court of Appeal admitted the prosecutors' approach regarding the change of the repressive measure regarding the chief architect of the municipality of Soroca, the secretary of the Council and the deputy mayor, detained by the NAC and placed under house arrest in the case of rigged tenders. Thus, the appeals court decided to place the three accused in preventive detention until October 2 this year in Penitentiary no. 11.

The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) of the NAC seized assets worth 2.2 million lei last week. At the same time, 900 thousand lei were taken over for administration.

In the field of corruption prevention, the Legislation Directorate completed and handed over to the authors 11 expert reports and 2 opinions on draft normative acts, last week. During the mentioned period, 9 anti-corruption trainings were organized for 300 people. The NAC notifies the completion of 3 operational analyses, 8 judicial expertises, the release of 184 integrity records, the reception of 55 calls to the National Anti-corruption Hotline and the registration of 1568 materials in the Centre’s Chancellery.