NAC Synthesis: Around 100 searches and 19 individuals detained in corruption cases, fines of over 10 million lei and freezing orders on criminal assets worth 2.5 million lei

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) has reported, for the past week, several actions in the direction of combating corruption in cases of public procurement fraud, computer fraud, scams and money laundering, as well as electoral corruption. Thus, 7 individuals were detained and subsequently arrested following the conduct of over 60 searches within 30 criminal cases, initiated on corruption acts committed by those responsible for public procurement processes within a department of the Chisinau Municipal Council in complicity with several economic agents. Another large-scale operation, carried out by the NAC jointly with the PCCOCS, resulted in the detention and arrest of 12 people. 35 searches were carried out at two call centres in the capital and at the suspects' homes, as a result of which financial means in different currencies were seized, as well as four luxury cars - 3 Mercedes and a Land Rover Range Rover. The case concerned computer fraud, money laundering and scam with a damage caused to foreign citizens of 9 million lei. The NAC also has reported that the amount of fines applied on the basis of the reports received from the Police, regarding the finding of the contravention provided for in art. 47 first Contravention Code - "passive electoral corruption" reached 10,350,000 lei. During the reference period, criminal investigation officers proposed 11 cases for resolution.  

In addition, two convictions were announced. In the first case, a man was sentenced to 4 years in prison for bribery in a case opened by the National Anti-Corruption Centre. In the second case, investigated by anti-corruption officers, a person accused of influence peddling was fined 300,000 lei with the confiscation of 22,000 euros.

The National Anti-Corruption Centre’s Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) seized a non-residential premises worth approximately 200,000 lei last week, based on delegations from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (AP), seized in a case of influence peddling. At the same time, the Agency issued freezing orders on criminal assets worth 2.5 million lei.

In the field of corruption prevention, the Legislation Directorate finalized and submitted to the authors 35 expert reports and 5 opinions on draft normative acts, last week. During the mentioned period, 6 anti-corruption trainings were organized for 1700 people. The NAC notifies the completion of 4 operational and one strategic analyses, the issuance of 92 integrity records, the reception of 67 calls to the national anti-corruption line and the registration of 2240 materials in the Centre's Chancellery.