NAC Synthesis: 150 searches carried out and over 20 million lei seized in electoral corruption cases, 76 000 euros claimed in influence trading cases and seizures of 2.1 million lei applied by the CARA
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) has presented the weekly balance of the activities carried out in the areas of combating and preventing corruption, as well as on the criminal assets recovery. During the reference period, the NAC carried out over 150 searches in voter corruption cases, illegal financing of political parties and money laundering throughout the country. The searches with major impact took place in Chisinau, as a result of which over 20 million lei were seized. Following the searches carried out in the remaining cases of electoral corruption, illegal financing of political parties and money laundering, financial means in various currencies, information carriers, draft documents, other materials relevant to the investigation were seized, and criminal investigation actions are ongoing. At the same time, a group of people involved in disinformation and manipulation of public opinion, for a fee, in the interest of certain political parties was identified. Also in this context, a man investigated by the NAC, APO and SIS was sentenced to three years in prison for illegal financing of a political party.
The NAC officers also carried out criminal investigation actions within the framework of two influence peddling cases. The first case concerns a couple from the capital, who allegedly demanded and received 16,000 euros from two figures in a criminal case, in exchange for influencing public officials and getting them to adopt a favourable decision on a case under management. In the second case, a man allegedly demanded 60,000 euros from a defendant, claiming that he would have influence over public officials and that he could get them to remove him from criminal prosecution.
The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency has seized assets worth over 2.1 million lei, including 33 agricultural plots, a means of transport, a residential building, a plot of land for construction and cash. The agency has issued a freezing order on a bank account worth approximately 195 000 lei. At the same time, previously applied seizures in the amount of about 150 000 lei were confirmed by court decisions.
During the reporting period, the criminal investigation officers of the NAC proposed 11 files for resolution. At the moment, 3 people are in the NAC Detention Centre, and 25 people, targeted in the Centre’s files, are detained in penitentiary institutions, being preventively arrested.
In the field of corruption prevention, the Legislation Directorate submitted 20 legislative expertise reports to the authors. At the same time, 129 integrity records were issued, 5 trainings were conducted for 400 people, 2 operational analyses were conducted, and 87 calls were received at the National Anti-Corruption Line 0 800 55555 and the Hotline +373 78 710 116, including on the subject of electoral corruption. 1613 materials were registered in the institution's office.