The Director of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), Alexandr Pînzari, had a meeting with Petra Lärke, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova, during which the common priorities regarding the consolidation of reforms and the streamlining of mechanisms for combating corruption in the Republic of Moldova were addressed.

The discussions focused on expanding the NAC's competences in the field of investigating financial fraud, combating electoral corruption and recovering of criminal assets. At the same time, the interlocutors highlighted the importance of cooperation with European partners for the development of modern, transparent and efficient institutions.

The Director of the NAC, Alexandr Pînzari, emphasized the essential role of external support in strengthening institutional capacities and accelerating anti-corruption reforms. “The partnership with the Kingdom of Sweden and the European institutions represents an important support for our efforts, and the results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of this cooperation in preventing and combating corruption,” said the head of the NAC.

In turn, Ambassador Petra Lärke reiterated Sweden’s support for the European path of the Republic of Moldova and for reforms in the justice sector and institutional integrity.

The meeting reconfirms the continued cooperation between the NAC and international partners to promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova.
 

Officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors of the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office, jointly with the General Police Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, carried out searches this morning in several penitentiaries, as well as in other locations across the country.

The actions are taking place within the framework of a criminal case targeting possible acts of active and passive corruption of some persons involved in the process of implementing and applying the amnesty, granted on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Moldova, as well as in the application of the provisions of Articles 91 and 92 of the Criminal Code. According to preliminary data of the criminal investigation, the acts of corruption were allegedly committed including with the involvement of persons sentenced to prison, and the ultimate goal was the release from detention of several persons sentenced to life imprisonment.

We specify that the operation is being carried out with the support of officers of the Escorts and Special Actions Service of the NAC, the "Fulger" Special Purpose Police Brigade and the "Pantera" Special Purpose Detachment. The criminal investigation continues to establish all the circumstances and identify all the persons involved.

We specify that any person shall benefit from the presumption of innocence until a final and irrevocable court decision is pronounced.
 

Officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors of the Balti Municipal Prosecutor's Office, main office, announce the detention of eight people in a criminal case targeting smuggling and money laundering activities, carried out through an organized network that operated on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and in several European Union states.

According to the materials collected during the criminal investigation, the group's members, including representatives of resident and non-resident companies, allegedly created and managed a well-structured criminal organization specializing in the illegal import of modern mobile phones into the Republic of Moldova and the laundering of proceeds from their sale.

According to the evidence administered, the goods were purchased from Italy and transported to the Republic of Moldova via regular passenger and parcel flights. To avoid paying import duties and customs control, mobile phones were introduced through border crossing points by not declaring them in customs documents, being hidden among the luggage and transported packages. Subsequently, the phones were distributed to individuals and legal entities affiliated with the group, who knew the illicit origin of the goods and sold them through specialized stores and online sales platforms. In this way, the members of the network obtained considerable income from the domestic sale of goods fraudulently introduced into the country.

The investigation established that the financial means resulting from these activities were systematically collected by persons responsible for the financial circuit of the scheme and temporarily kept in the premises of currency exchange houses in the municipality of Chisinau. After accumulating amounts ranging between 70,000 and 100,000 euros, the money was transferred to international passenger and parcel carriers, who, knowing their illicit origin, transported them clandestinely to European Union countries, mainly Belgium, without declaring the amounts to the customs authorities.

Next, to create the appearance of the legality of the origin of the money, the financial means were introduced into the economic circuit through companies controlled by the group members and registered in Belgium. Subsequently, the funds were transferred to Italy, where they reached the final beneficiary of the criminal scheme.

During the documentation of the case, it was established that approximately 13 individuals and 6 resident and non-resident legal entities were involved in the illegal activity, including international transport operators and representatives of currency exchange houses. According to preliminary estimates, the members of the group allegedly illegally imported and sold mobile phones worth over 1 million euros on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, thus damaging the state budget and generating illicit income in particularly large proportions.

Currently, the NAC officers and prosecutors continue criminal investigation actions to identify all the people involved, establish the entire criminal chain and hold all participants in the scheme criminally liable.

We remind that any person shall benefit from the presumption of innocence until a final court decision is rendered.
 

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) presents the main actions carried out the previous week in the fields of combating corruption, preventing corruption and criminal assets recovery. During the reporting period, the NAC officers carried out searches in systemic corruption cases, initiated on acts of passive, active corruption and influence peddling in the localities of Căușeni, Șoldănești and Rezina. The investigations target two distinct networks and a total of 38 suspects, including employees of the Public Services Agency (ASP), civil servants, administrators and driving instructors. According to the investigation, the suspects in Causeni allegedly demanded and received bribes of between 350 and 400 euros from candidates to guarantee their passing of the practical test of the driving exam.

In parallel, in the files from Soldanesti and Rezina, eight other people are accused of having received illicit remuneration to influence specialized commissions for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining driving licenses, medical certificates for weapons, illegal weapons registrations and even for the early release of a detainee from Penitentiary No. 18 in Brănești. At the same time, criminal investigation officers announce the initiation of 21 new criminal cases and the referral of 10 files to trial. The CNA specifies that, currently, one person is in solitary confinement, and 12 other defendants, detained in files managed by the Center, are placed in preventive detention in penitentiary institutions.

The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) under the NAC seized assets worth approximately 20 million lei and issued freezing orders for 6 real estate assets. Other previously seized assets worth approximately 9 million lei were confirmed, and 2.1 million lei were taken over for administration in order to be deposited in the treasury accounts of the NAC.

In terms of corruption prevention, the NAC submitted 23 expert reports on draft normative acts to the authors. Also, 2 operational analyses were completed, 124 integrity records were issued, and approximately 600 officials participated in 11 anti-corruption trainings. The National Anti-corruption Line received 40 calls, and 1,885 materials were registered in the institution’s office.
 

This week, the National Anti-corruption Centre continued its anti-corruption education activities and promotion of integrity in the public sector, through training and information campaigns organized in several regions of the country. A special emphasis is placed during this period on the launch of the national campaign "No Corruption at BAC Exams", carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova and the National Agency for Curriculum and Evaluation, aiming to prevent corruption and promote integrity in the process of national baccalaureate exams.

The campaign follows the actions carried out by the NAC in recent years in educational institutions across the country, where thousands of students, teachers and educational managers participated in information sessions on integrity requirements, legal liability for acts of corruption and compliance with rules during exams. In previous editions of the campaign, the NAC officers organized trainings in dozens of high schools, informing over 4,000 graduates and hundreds of teachers about the consequences of exam fraud and the ways to report corruption attempts.

In the current edition, the NAC representatives will conduct information sessions for students, teachers, presidents and secretaries of BAC centres, emphasizing the importance of fairness, transparency and accountability in organizing and conducting exams. Participants will be informed about the legal regime of conflicts of interest, the prohibition of accepting gifts or improper influences, as well as the possibility of reporting corruption cases to the National Anti-corruption Line 0800 55555.

At the same time, as part of the "Integrity and Honor in the Service of the Homeland" campaign, carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Moldova, information activities were organized in military structures in Florești, Soroca and Cahul districts, with the aim of promoting discipline and professional responsibility.

Also, as part of the "Integrity for Health" campaign, the NAC officers and anti-corruption volunteers held discussions with medical personnel from the Health Centres in Dondușeni and Soroca on preventing corruption and strengthening transparency in the medical system.

In parallel, the NAC officers and anti-corruption volunteers organized educational sessions and the interactive quiz " Pro-Integrity Quiz " at Ion Luca Caragiale High School, with the active participation of students.

Information activities on professional ethics and integrity norms were also carried out within the Probation Offices in the Central region, and the NAC representatives participated, as trainers, in sessions organized by the National Institute of Public Administration.

Through these actions, the NAC continues its anti-corruption prevention and education campaigns, promoting a culture of integrity among public institutions, young people and the entire society.