Officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors of the Chisinau Municipal Prosecutor's Office are documenting a case of influence peddling, within a file opened in May 2025, in which the head of a multifunctional center in the cadastral register of the Public Services Agency (ASP) is being investigated. The official is suspected of having demanded and received 15,000 euros in bribes from administrators of several salons specializing in dermatology and cosmetic surgery in the Republic of Moldova and Romania in exchange for the completion of fake graduation diplomas from a higher education institution abroad, without the beneficiaries having actually followed the respective studies.

At the same time, the person concerned allegedly claimed to have influence over decision-makers in the field of education and health in the Republic of Moldova, promising that he could facilitate the recognition and equivalence of diplomas from abroad. Thus, holders of fake diplomas, without real professional training, could have obtained the right to perform medical and aesthetic procedures in salons in the country.

The case, documented by the NAC for more than 6 months, highlights an alarming phenomenon for public safety – corruption and falsification of professional qualifications in the field of aesthetic medicine, through which unqualified persons end up carrying out activities with a direct impact on the health of citizens. The suspect was detained for 72 hours, and the investigations continue, with several complaints being examined.

The NAC and the Prosecutor's Office urge citizens and salon administrators to report any case of corruption or illegal activity, thus contributing to the protection of public health and professional integrity in the field of beauty.

We remind that every person shall be presumed innocent until a final and irrevocable court decision is rendered.
 

The Cimișlia Court, Central Headquarters, found the director of a company guilty of committing the crime of fraud committed by using his official position, in particularly large proportions. The court established a sentence of 9 years in prison, a fine of 450,000 lei and deprivation of the right to exercise activities related to the management of material assets for a period of 5 years. In order to execute the sentence, the preventive measure of arrest was applied to the defendant, and he was announced wanted.

At the same time, the civil action filed by the injured party was fully admitted, the court ordering the collection from the defendant's account of the damage caused by the crime in the amount of (638,000 lei and contractual penalties in the amount of 63,800 lei), a total of 701,800 lei.

According to the evidence administered by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) jointly with the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (APO), the defendant concluded a contract with the Energy Efficiency Agency (EEA) and a beneficiary company, within the "Energy and Biomass" Project, financed by the European Union. He undertook to deliver equipment for the production of biomass briquettes, in the amount of 638,000 lei.

The technical expertise found that two of the three machines delivered did not comply with the specifications provided in the contract. Under the pretext of replacing them, the defendant allegedly took the equipment from the warehouse and sold it to unknown persons, appropriating the money obtained. He did not return the funds received from the EEA, causing the institution a particularly large amount of damage.

The sentence can be appealed to the Southern 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.
 

Officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), jointly with the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (APO), today carried out a series of searches as part of a criminal case regarding passive corruption and influence peddling in the educational system in Chisinau. Seven people are targeted in the case, including the dean of a faculty at the Moldova State University (MSU), the director of a college in the capital, two intermediaries and three students.

According to the accumulated evidence, the dean, having the status of scientific supervisor and member of the bachelor's thesis defense committee (year 2025), allegedly demanded and received illicit financial means to develop and send in electronic format bachelor's theses to students of the faculty he leads. At the same time, he would have influenced the members of the specialized commission to ensure the promotion of the respective works.

Following the searches carried out at the homes and offices of the persons involved, the NAC officers and prosecutors seized documents, electronic media, diplomas and sums of money, the provenance of which is to be established. The suspects are to be investigated at liberty.

The NAC and APO continue the criminal investigation to establish all the circumstances and the entire criminal chain. We remind that any person shall be considered innocent until a final and irrevocable decision is issued by the court.

The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) under the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) seized assets of illicit origin worth 1.6 million lei and issued a freezing order for an amount of 135 000 lei.

At the same time, various amounts of money, including crypto currencies, were taken into administration in a fraud case. Their equivalent at the time of the takeover is over 82 000 dollars.

On the occasion of Criminal Investigation Officer's Day, I extend my sincere congratulations to all my colleagues who carry out this noble mission with dedication and integrity.

Your work requires professionalism, balance and courage. Through your daily effort to defend the law and the truth, you directly contribute to strengthening the rule of law and increasing citizens' trust in justice.

Thank you for your dedication, fairness and for the fact that, through each action, you demonstrate that the fight against corruption is a cause in the service of the people and the country.