Former director of a placement centre, investigated by the NAC and APO, was sentenced to 7 years in prison, of which 3 years and 6 months were to be served

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani, pronounced a sentence of conviction regarding a defendant, found guilty of committing the crimes of forgery of public documents and embezzlement of foreign property.

For the crime of embezzlement of foreign property, the court imposed a sentence of 7 years in prison, of which 3 years and 6 months were to be served, and the rest was conditionally suspended for a period of 3 years. Regarding the crime of forgery of public documents, the defendant was found guilty, but was released from serving the sentence, since the statute of limitations for criminal liability had expired.

The court partially admitted the civil action filed by the Municipal Directorate for the Protection of Children's Rights and ordered the collection, from the defendant's account, of the amount of over 160,000 lei, as material damage caused by the crime.

Until the sentence becomes final, the defendant was required to appear before the hierarchically superior court.

According to the evidence administered by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), jointly with the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (APO), the defendant, in the period August 2008 - September 2012, as director of a family-type placement centre, an institution subordinated to the Municipal Directorate for Child Protection, Reintegration and Family Support, allegedly prepared employment applications addressed to the head of the department on behalf of three people.

These persons were allegedly fictitiously employed at the centre, and the defendant allegedly entered obviously false data in the time sheets and increased their salaries, in a total amount of over 160,000 lei. Thus, considerable material damage was caused to the Municipal Directorate for the Protection of Children's Rights.

The defendant did not admit her guilt, but the court considered the evidence presented to be conclusive and found her guilty.

The sentence can be appealed to the 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.