The mayor of Causeni, detained by the NAC for a bribe of 89 000 lei allegedly for the award of a works contract

The officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre and the prosecutors of the municipality of Chisinau are conducting criminal investigation actions in a large file, initiated on facts that concern abuse of office, passive corruption and active corruption, in which the illicit actions of some employees of the local public administration in Causeni and of an economic agent are investigated. The raids take place at the headquarters of Causeni City Hall, including in the office of the mayor and some employees of the institution, but also at the headquarters and offices of some economic agents targeted in the investigation.

According to the investigation materials, the mayor of Căușeni is suspected of having claimed, accepted and received undue financial means in the amount of 89,300 lei, which constitutes 50% of the amount of the contract previously awarded to a company by the local administration. At this stage of the operation, documents, information storage devices and other evidence relevant to the criminal case were seized from the scene.

At the moment, two people are detained – the mayor of Căușeni and the representative of a business entity. Both are to be escorted to the NAC for questioning and placed in the detention centre isolator for 72 hours.

The investigations continue under the procedural leadership of the Chișinău Municipal Prosecutor's Office to establish all the circumstances of the case and identify other persons involved. We remind that every person shall be presumed innocent until a final decision is rendered by the court.