Synthesis: Over 40 searches in a case of embezzlement of public funds at a Centre of Excellence in Medicine, a bribe of half a million lei documented and seizures of about 2 million lei
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) has reported several activities carried out last week in the fight against corruption, as well as other actions within the spectrum of institutional attributions. Thus, the NAC officers carried out 45 searches in a file targeting a scheme of embezzlement of public funds by decision-makers and employees of the Raisa Pacalo Centre of Excellence in Medicine and Pharmacy. The director of the institution, the chief accountant, a human resources specialist and a department head were accused of committing several illegalities, including active and passive corruption, and 5 other people have suspect status in this case. At the moment, the accused partially admit their guilt and are being investigated at liberty, and today the prosecutors will request their suspension from office.
In another case, two men, from Chisinau and Rezina, are being investigated in an influence peddling case, suspected of demanding a bribe of over half a million lei to influence a court decision. Also last week, the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, convicted two people for influence peddling, in a case investigated by the NAC, being forced to pay approximately 380,000 lei. We note that at the moment, 11 people, arrested in the cases opened by the NAC, are placed in prisons. During the reference period, criminal investigation officers opened 12 criminal cases and proposed 26 cases to the prosecutors for resolution.
Also, the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) of the NAC seized 10 assets worth about 2 million lei last week, based on the delegations of the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), the Cahul Police Inspectorate and the General Inspectorate of Border Police (IGPF) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These include a residential room, 3 means of transport, 5 agricultural lands and a land for construction. The assets were seized in a case of money laundering, fraud and organizing illegal migration. At the same time, about 1.6 million lei, previously seized, were confirmed by court decisions.
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) also informs that during the reporting period it signed an Inter-institutional Collaboration Agreement with the Prosecutor's Office (PG), the Ministry of Finance (MF), the State Fiscal Service (SFS) and the National Union of Bailiffs (NUB). The purpose of the Agreement is to consolidate and streamline the process of recovering criminal assets.
In the field of corruption prevention, the Legislation Directorate finalized and submitted to the authors 16 expert reports on draft normative acts last week. During the mentioned period, 4 anti-corruption trainings were organized for approximately 470 people. At the same time, the information campaign "I Decide with Integrity - I Vote with Accountability" was launched to promote integrity in the electoral process. The NAC notifies the completion of 11 operational analyses, the issuance of 182 integrity records, the reception of 50 calls to the National Anti-corruption Hotline and the registration of 1624 materials in the Centre’s Chancellery.