Former president of Calarasi district, former mayor of the city, two district council employees, as well as a company administrator, sent to trial for abuse of office, resulting in damage to the district budget

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has announced the completion of the criminal investigation and the transmission to the court, for examination on the merits, of the criminal case in which a former president of Calarasi district, a former mayor of the city, two district council employees, as well as a company administrator (close relative of the former mayor) are accused of committing the crime of abuse of office, actions resulting in damage to the district budget.

According to the evidence accumulated by the National Anti-corruption Centre jointly with the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office, during the period February–April 2022, the defendants allegedly acted in a coordinated manner, based on a pre-established plan, to favour personal interests. They allegedly defied the legal provisions regarding the conduct of public procurement procedures, including by artificially dividing the works for the objective “Construction of a room for the location of the medical waste incinerator”, the aim being to avoid organizing public tenders.

Also, the works were allegedly executed and received in the absence of mandatory documentation, including the execution project and the building permit, and were subsequently paid for from public funds, although they did not meet the legal requirements.

As a result of these actions, the district budget was allegedly caused material damage in the amount of over 288,000 lei, an amount that constitutes considerable damage.

The charges were rejected by the defendants. The criminal case was sent for examination on the merits to the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters.

For the crime of abuse of office, the law provides for a fine of 67,500 to 117,500 lei or imprisonment of 2 to 7 years, in both cases with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or exercise a certain activity for a period of 5 to 10 years.

To guarantee the recovery of the damage and the payment of the fine, the financial means belonging to the accused and fully covering the damage caused were seized.

Note: A person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.