100,000 lei fine - the punishment received by a real estate agent for 4 counts of influence peddling

On September 8, 2023, the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters pronounced the sentence in the criminal case referred to the justice by the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, which concerns the actions of a real estate agent, accused of committing four counts of influence peddling (art. 326 para. (11 ), art.326 para.(11), art.326 para.(11), art.326 para.(11) of the Criminal Code).

The criminal investigation was started in August 2021, by the National Anticorruption Center, based on a whistleblowing.

According to the materials, the real estate agent, pursuing the goal of obtaining the necessary documents for real estate transactions more quickly, the registration of property rights over real estate, the registration of the mortgage, etc. sent, through a citizen, sums varying between 900 and 2700 lei, in order to influence public persons from the Cadastre Department of the Public Services Agency to release the documents (extract and assessment), without the physical presence of the beneficiary/service owner.

The trial of the case lasted 1 year, the defendant admitting his guilt of committing the criminal act and, at his request, the criminal case being examined based on the evidence administered during the criminal prosecution phase, without requesting the administration of new evidence.

By sentence of September 8, 2023, the court found the defendant guilty of committing four counts of influence peddling, establishing the final punishment in the form of a fine of 100,000 lei, with the right to pay half of the amount within of 3 working days from the moment the decision becomes enforceable.

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

Note: A person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.

procuratura.md/anticoruptie