A man, investigated by the NAC and APO, was convicted of influence peddling in the case generically called COVID-19

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani seat, pronounced the sentence of conviction regarding a man, found guilty of committing the crime of influence peddling. The court imposed on him, through partial cumulation of the sentences, a fine of 275,000 lei and ordered the confiscation of the amount of 600 euros to the state account, as money resulting from the crime.

According to the evidence administered by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC), jointly with the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office (APO), between July and September 2021, the defendant, together with other persons in respect of whom the criminal case was disjoined in a separate procedure, allegedly claimed to have influence over family doctors and employees of public medical institutions. In exchange for this influence, he allegedly requested and received funds ranging from 50 to 100 euros to issue vaccination certificates to people who were not actually immunized.

As a result of these actions, seven people obtained COVID-19 vaccination certificates, being registered in the database as vaccinated, although they were not actually immunized.

The defendant denied the charges throughout the examination of the case, but the court considered the evidence presented to be well-founded and found him guilty. The sentence can be appealed to the Central Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Note: A person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent until his guilt is established by a final court decision.