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Home / Mass-Media / Events / Seven police officers from the Cahul Police Inspectorate investigated by the NAC in more corruption files. They are suspected of the abuse of power and taking bribes
Seven police officers from the Cahul Police Inspectorate investigated by the NAC in more corruption files. They are suspected of the abuse of power and taking bribes
02.02.2021
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Seven employees of the Cahul Police Inspectorate are criminally investigated by the officers of the General Territorial Directorate ”South” of the NAC and anti-corruption prosecutors. Of the seven, five are inspectors of the Patrol Service and two operate within the Technical Surveillance and Road Accident Service of the Cahul Police Inspectorate. They are suspected of abuse of power and passive corruption, actions investigated in six criminal cases.
In fact, the criminal investigation was initiated last October, after which the General Territorial Directorate ”South” of the NAC was notified by a resident of the Crihana Veche village, Cahul district. The resident complained that he had been stopped on the road by a crew of the Cahul Police Inspectorate and allegedly demanded a bribe of 300 euros, not to document drunk driving a motorcycle, without having driving licence. A criminal investigation was initiated in this case; however, other five criminal cases were opened for the abuse of power and passive corruption.
Although the duties of the police officers were limited to the interventions in the emergency cases, transmitted by the 112 operators, they allegedly abused their function and, out of the service, using the Inspectorate's car, they would have stopped several drivers from whom they allegedly claimed bribes. According to the accumulated materials, it was established that they stopped the cars within the municipality of Cahul and, invoking various pretexts, intimidated the drivers, ordering them to pay bribes. From the video and audio materials, it is found out that, in order not to draw up minutes and not to sanction them, they conditioned the drivers to offer them illicit rewards in different currencies: lei, euro, pounds, etc.
Seven police officers are detained for 72 hours and risk up to 10 years in prison, criminal fines and the deprivation of the right to hold public offices, if the court declares them guilty. We remind, that since the beginning of this year, 8 employees of the police inspectorate have been detained for being involved in different corruption acts. In 2020, the NAC managed 50 cases, which targeted over 80 police officers, suspected of passive corruption, influence peddling and other abuses.
The Anticorruption Prosecution Office of the South is conducting the criminal investigation.