A former director of the Sports Centre for the Preparation of National Teams and a former Minister of Youth and Sports, convicted in a case initiated by the NAC

Two people were convicted by the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, in a case initiated by the NAC on corruption and abuse. It is about the former director of the Sports Centre for the Preparation of National Teams (CSPLN), accused of exceeding the duties of office and passive corruption, and the former Minister of Youth and Sports, accused of exceeding the duties of office.

According to the administered evidence, in 2015, the director of the CSPLN demanded 200,000 euros from the administrator of a company, promising to give him the use of a land that belonged to the Sports Centre and the Ministry of Sports, so that later it could be transferred from the property public in private. Thus, the whistle-blower sent the CSPLN director the equivalent of 200,000 euros in US dollars to complete the necessary documents. Following the conclusion of the contract by the parties, such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the director of the CSPLN and the whistle-blower, damage was caused to the CSPLN through the partial demolition of the construction that was located on the nominated land in the amount of 95,347.75 lei and the transfer of the ownership right on the land with the market value of 400,000 euros from state property to private ownership. The civil partnership contract was later declared null and void by the civil court, the land being returned to the state.

According to the sentence, the director of the CSPLN was found guilty of committing the crime of passive corruption, with the establishment of the criminal penalty in the form of 7 years in prison with a fine of 160,000 lei and with the deprivation of the right to hold public office. Also, the former Minister of Youth and Sports and the director of the CSPLN were found guilty of committing art. 328 paragraph (2) letter a) of Criminal Code, being released from criminal liability in connection with the expiration of the prescription for criminal liability. The court ordered the confiscation of the sum of 200,000 euros from the defendant's account to be transferred to the state.

The person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent as long as his/her guilt is not established by a court decision of final conviction.