Conviction on a file, instrumented by the General Territorial Directorate North of the NAC

On January 12, 2023, the Bălți Court, the Central Headquarters, pronounced the sentence in a criminal case referred to the justice by the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, North Office, regarding the actions of a man and two women (as accomplices) who committed the crime of traffic of influence.

In March 2021, based on two complaints, the General Territorial Directorate "North" of the National Anticorruption Center (NAC) started the criminal investigation on the fact that, between December 2020 and March 22, 2021, the convict, acting together with his concubine and another woman, they claimed that through some people they have influence on the judge from the Bălți Central Court, in the proceedings of which the criminal case of the convict was being examined together with three other people, all accused of committing the crime of keeping with the purpose of disposing of narcotic substances, in particularly large proportions.

At the same time, claiming that they also have influence over the state prosecutor, the three convicts demanded from the other two defendants 5000 euros each (10,000 euros in total), in order to influence both the case prosecutor and the judge to issue charges against them a non-custodial sentence.

On March 22, 2021, the man personally received the first installment of 5,000 euros from the whistleblower, after which all three participants in the crime of influence peddling were detained by the NAC officers.

The prosecution in this criminal case lasted two months, and its trial lasted almost two years.

During the court session, the accused did not admit their guilt. The state prosecutor requested imprisonment for a term of 4 and 3 years, respectively, with the execution of the sentence in a semi-closed penitentiary and the confiscation of the criminal bodies for the benefit of the state.

Accordingly, by the sentence of January 12, 2023, the court found the three defendants guilty of committing the crime provided for by art. 44, 326 par. (2) l. b) (influence peddling and complicity in influence peddling) from the Criminal Code and imposed a prison sentence on the man for a term of 4 years, and on both women for 3 years, with execution in a semi-closed penitentiary, with taking them under guard from the courtroom. At the same time, the corpora delicti, namely: the monetary means in the amount of 5000 euros and the mobile phones belonging to the convicts were forcibly and free of charge handed over to the state.

It should be mentioned that one of the defendants during the trial of the case was announced as wanted, thus, the case was tried and the sentence pronounced in his absence, with the participation of the other defendants.

The sentence is not final and can be appealed within 15 days to the Balti Court of Appeal.

Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office