A lawyer and his client, investigated by the NAC and APO, were convicted of influence peddling

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani, found a lawyer guilty of committing two episodes of influence peddling and his client of buying influence. The case was investigated by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), jointly with the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (APO).

The court ordered the lawyer, through partial cumulation of the sentences, to be sentenced to three years in prison, one year and six months to be served in prison, and the rest of the sentence to be conditionally suspended for a two-year probationary period. He was deprived of the right to practice law for a period of 5 years. Until the sentence becomes final, the preventive measure - preventive arrest - was applied to him, and he will be detained.

Also, the confiscation and transfer to the state of the equivalent of 6,750 euros from the defendant's account, as assets resulting from the crime, was ordered.

His client received a fine of 125,000 lei, and was required to appear at the higher court until the sentence became final.

According to the evidence administered, during 2021-2022, the lawyer claimed and received 4,000 euros from another client (who denounced himself), claiming that he could influence prosecutors from the Chisinau Municipal Prosecutor's Office and judges from the Chisinau Court, to help him avoid losing his right to drive, in the event of a trial for driving under the influence of alcohol.

In December 2022, the lawyer contacted the client again, claiming that he could influence the decision of the Chisinau Court of Appeal in another trial, in which his client had been declared wanted to serve a prison sentence. The lawyer requested 4,500 euros to obtain the cancellation of the wanted decision, and in February 2023 he received 2,250 euros, part of the requested amount.

Also, in January 2023, the lawyer claimed and received between 500 and 600 euros to influence officials from the Chisinau Probation Office not to carry out actions to ensure the execution of the sentence of 160 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community, by the client convicted of buying influence peddling.

The sentence can be appealed to the Centre Court of Appeal within 15 days.

The lawyer was previously convicted of similar crimes.

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