Systemic corruption in a hospital in Edineț: the NAC documents two employees of the medical institution for influence peddling and passive corruption in procedures regarding fitness for military service
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors from the Bălți Municipal Prosecutor's Office, Main Office, document a systemic corruption scheme within a medical institution in the Edineț district, with the aim of influencing the results of medical examinations in order to obtain the status of "unfit" for military service.
According to the materials of the criminal case, an ophthalmologist from the IMSP Health Center Edineț is suspected of influence peddling, after allegedly demanding and receiving money from a citizen, claiming that he had influence over public figures within the Edineț Territorial Military Centre. In exchange for illicit remuneration, he allegedly promised to determine persons from the Edineț TMC to accept medical results favorable to the beneficiary, so that he would be declared unfit for military service.
Further investigations revealed other criminal episodes, which led to the initiation of three more criminal cases for passive corruption. According to the accumulated evidence, the ophthalmologist, together with a nurse, allegedly established an illegal mechanism to collect money from patients for omitting or modifying information regarding deficiencies detected during ophthalmological examinations.
Thus, a repetitive practice was established, through which various people were favored in exchange for improper payments, which indicates the existence of systemic corruption.
The doctor is detained for 72 hours. At the same time, the NAC officers conducted searches in some offices of the medical institution and at the homes of four people targeted in the file, including the nurse suspected of involvement in demanding and receiving money from patients. She is being investigated at large.
The criminal investigation continues to establish all the circumstances of the case, identify all the persons involved and document the entire criminal activity.
Every person shall benefit from the presumption of innocence until a final court decision is rendered