A police officer from Drochia, convicted in an influence peddling case investigated by the National Anti-corruption Centre

The Drochia Central Court has pronounced the sentence in a criminal case, initiated in February 2022 and processed by the General Territorial Directorate North (GTD North) of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) based on whistleblowing from two citizens. The actions target a former police employee accused on two counts of influence peddling. The case was referred to justice by the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office, North Office.

According to the materials, the police collaborator from the Drochia Police Inspectorate demanded, accepted and received 35,000 lei in one case, and 2,000 euros in another case, from different persons, to influence the judges and criminal investigation bodies, in whose procedure the criminal cases of drunk driving by the informants were under examination, so that the law enforcement bodies would adopt favourable decisions regarding them in order not to cancel the right to drive the means of transport.

Despite the alleged influence of the police collaborator on the law enforcement bodies, through the court sentences the informants were sentenced to criminal penalties including the cancellation of the right to drive the means of transport.

The criminal investigation lasted 4 months each. The criminal case was pending in court for 2 years and 6 months, its examination over a longer period being justified, or preventively the defendant did not admit his guilt in committing the charged acts and pleaded not guilty, admitting the acts only after the full investigation of the prosecution evidence, where at the same time one of the key witnesses for the prosecution was abroad, his whereabouts being subsequently identified and heard by the court at the request of the prosecutor via videoconference.

By the sentence of January 17, 2025, the court found the defendant guilty of committing the crimes of influence peddling, establishing his punishment for each episode separately, for the first episode in the amount of 6 months of imprisonment and for the second episode in the amount of 8 months of imprisonment, and by cumulation the defendant was established a final sentence of imprisonment for a term of one year with its execution in a semi-closed penitentiary, the term of serving the prison sentence being calculated from the date of the sentence becoming final. At the same time, pursuant to art. 65 of the Criminal Code, the defendant was deprived of the right to exercise activity within the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a term of 3 years.

At the same time, the confiscation of funds in the amount of 35,000 lei and 2,000 euros from the person's account for the benefit of the State was ordered, and the seizure of 1/2 of the defendant's assets, namely 1/2 of the house and the land belonging to the household, in the amount of 101,000 lei, was also ordered.

The sentence can be appealed to the Northern Court of Appeal within 15 days.