Two men convicted of influence peddling over local public administration employees, in a case investigated by the NAC, were ordered to pay a cumulative fine of approximately 430 000 lei

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani, found two men guilty of committing two counts of influence peddling (art.326 para.(2) letter d) of the Criminal Code). The court ordered a fine of 200,000 lei for each defendant and the confiscation of the equivalent of 1,500 euros from their accounts, an amount intended for the commission of the crime.

According to the evidence presented in court by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (AP), accumulated during the criminal investigation phase with the contribution of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), the defendants, during the period of November 15-28, allegedly promised and gave another person, in respect of whom the criminal case was disjoined, the amount of 500 euros so that the latter would influence public figures within the Chisinau City Hall, to expedite the extension and amendment of a land lease contract.

At the same time, during the same period, the defendants also promised and gave the same person, financial means in the amount of 1,000 euros, this time to influence public figures within the local public administration, for the execution of permissive acts for the location of 4 kiosks in the municipality of Chisinau.

Although the defendants denied committing the acts charged, the court, analysing the evidence, established their guilt.

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

Note: The person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent as long as his guilt is not established by a final court decision of conviction.