Chief accountant of the SE "Centre for Training Specialists for the National Army" - fined 175 thousand lei for 2 episodes of influence peddling, in a case investigated by the NAC

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani seat, pronounced the sentence of conviction of the chief accountant of the SE "Centre for Training Specialists for the National Army", being found guilty of committing two episodes of influence peddling. The court ordered the punishment of a fine of 175,000 lei, with the deprivation of the right to exercise the function of accountant in public or private institutions in the Republic of Moldova for a term of 5 years. The case was initiated by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and proposed for trial by officers of the General Directorate for Criminal Investigation of the NAC.

According to the evidence presented in court, the defendant, working as chief accountant at the SE "Centre for the Training of Specialists for the National Army", during the period 2021-2022, allegedly threatened the administrators of two companies, which had lease agreements with the institution and were using additional space of a building and a land area that was not the subject of the lease agreement, that she would influence the termination of these contracts or create difficulties in carrying out the activities of the companies.

To intervene in favour of the continuation of this illegal use, she illegally requested and received from the two administrators funds ranging between 1,500 and 2,500 lei. In addition, she transferred part of the money received to another employee of the institution, in order to influence him not to intervene in the illegal use of the assets. Part of the amounts received were kept by her for herself.

The criminal investigation lasted 6 months, and the trial of the case lasted 2 years and 6 months. The defendant pleaded not guilty during the trial, but the court established her guilt.

The funds in the amount of 13,300 lei, recognized as corpus delicti, were forcibly and free of charge transferred to the state account.

The sentence can be appealed to the Central 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.