Three people, investigated by the NAC and APO, were convicted of influence peddling. They allegedly collected money from investors to bribe members of a specialized commission

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani, found three people guilty of the crime of influence peddling. The court ordered each of them to pay a fine of 125,000 lei and to confiscate for the benefit of the state, jointly and severally from their account, the equivalent of 3,150 euros.

According to the evidence administered by the National Anti-corruption Centre and the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office, between June and December 2019, the three defendants, who worked in leadership and management positions at two companies involved in the construction of a residential building in the city of Chisinau, allegedly stated to the investors of that building that they had influence over the members of the final construction acceptance committee (a committee that also included public figures) and that they could determine those members to sign the minutes necessary for the commissioning of the building, even if this meant that the committee members did not properly fulfil their duties.

Thus, following this promise, the three allegedly requested and received money from the investors – 150 euros from each, totalling 3,150 euros (the equivalent of approximately 61,929 lei, at the exchange rate at the time).

Although they denied committing the acts throughout the examination of the case, the court considered the evidence administered to be well-founded and established their guilt in committing the incriminated crime.

The sentence can be appealed to the Central Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Note: The person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent as long as his guilt is not established by a final court decision of conviction.