NAC Synthesis: Seizures of illicit assets worth approximately 140.8 million lei applied by the CARA, searches in the GAUDEAMUS file and convictions in corruption cases
The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) under the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) applied, in the last week, seizures of assets of illicit origin worth approximately 140.8 million lei. The assets were frozen in files targeting crimes of money laundering, theft, fraud, intentional insolvency and illegal obtaining and/or disclosure of information constituting commercial, banking or fiscal secrets. The seized assets include 4 residential buildings, a share capital, 3 bank accounts, 32 non-residential premises and 2 residential premises, 2 means of transport, 4 land plots for construction and other assets. Seizures previously applied, amounting to over 96 million lei, were confirmed by court decisions. At the same time, the Agency issued 5 freezing orders on 5 bank accounts and a means of transport.
During the reporting week, NAC officers conducted searches in a file regarding the violation of construction rules on the land of the former “GAUDEAMUS” cinema. In the absence of the Ministry of Culture’s approval, representatives of the construction company allegedly obtained from the Chisinau City Hall the necessary permissive documents, including the urban planning certificate, and subsequently the building permit for the construction of a multifunctional complex with over 15 floors, and ordered the commencement of the actual works, with non-compliance with the normative distances between the construction and the protection zones of the historical monuments in question. For a week, NAC criminal investigation officers initiated 7 criminal cases. Currently, 7 people are detained in prisons, being pre-trial detainees.
The Chisinau Court, Buiucani seat, pronounced sentences of conviction against the vice-president of the Rîșcani territorial organization and the secretary of the Rîșcani territorial office of a former political party, for committing the crime of complicity in knowingly accepting financing of the political party from an organized criminal group. Both were sentenced to 4 years in prison.
In terms of corruption prevention, 3 operational analyses were conducted, 32 calls were received at the National Anti-Corruption Line, and 1313 materials were registered in the institution's office.