The NAC Synthesis: Searches and arrests in a systemic corruption case at the Leușeni and Cahul customs posts and seizures of over 4 million lei applied by the CARA
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) has informed about the main actions carried out in the previous week in the areas of preventing and combating corruption, as well as the criminal assets recovery. During this period, the NAC carried out searches in a case concerning systemic corruption committed by employees of the Customs Service. Following the actions submitted by the prosecutors, the court issued 30-day preventive arrest warrants for five customs officers, house arrest was ordered in the case of one official, and another person in the case is being investigated at liberty, for medical reasons. In another case, the NAC and APO detained a lawyer from Ungheni, suspected of having received undue financial means from an individual, in a total amount of 5,000 euros, claiming that he could influence certain public officials to obtain a favourable decision in a criminal case concerning the crime of domestic violence. Also last week, a lawyer, investigated by the NAC and anti-corruption prosecutors, was sentenced to 6 years in prison for committing the crime of influence peddling.
The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) under the NAC seized 11 assets, totalling over 4 million lei. The assets were seized based on delegations from the Botanica Police Inspectorate, the Hincesti Prosecutor's Office and the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Causes (PCCOCS), in cases of embezzlement of foreign assets, fraud, money laundering, child trafficking and luring minors to criminal activity. At the same time, seizures previously applied to assets estimated at approximately 700 000 lei were confirmed by court decisions, and 800 000 lei were taken over for administration by the Agency.
In the field of corruption prevention, the NAC's Legislation Department finalized and submitted to the authors 11 expert reports and 4 opinions on draft normative acts. Also, 2 operational analyses were finalized, 98 criminal records were released and anti-corruption training was organized for 300 officials.
The National Anti-corruption Line received 59 calls, and 1,600 materials were registered in the NAC Chancellery.