A head of Department within AIPA, detained by the NAC and PA in an influence peddling case

Officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), jointly with prosecutors from the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (APO), today detained a Head of Department within the Agricultural Intervention and Payments Agency (AIPA), in a criminal case initiated on acts of influence peddling.

According to preliminary data, the head of Department allegedly demanded and received from the representative of an economic agent monetary means in a total amount of 130,000 lei, claiming that he would have influence over the members of the AIPA commission and that he could determine them to adopt a favourable decision regarding the acceptance of the application and the granting of the subsidy requested by the economic agent.

Following special investigative measures, the suspect was documented to have transferred sums of money to third parties, and during subsequent searches, funds totalling 2.5 million lei were discovered and seized.

The suspect was detained for 72 hours and placed in the NAC detention centre. Criminal investigation actions continue to identify all persons involved and document all circumstances of the case.

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