Several people, among whom one employee of the Public Services Agency (PSA), have drawn the attention of the NAC and prosecutors, being suspected of creating a corruption scheme to obtain illegally driving license. According to notification act, they would have manipulated the information system through which urgent scheduling were made and would have influenced the members of the examination commissions for the release of driving licenses, contrary to the legal norms.

It was found out within the investigations that a group of people both from the PSA and outside the institution, that had connections with officials, allegedly aimed at establishing a criminal scheme of obtaining illicit income. Thus, those nine people were taking sums between 350 and 500 euros for each case for candidate’s urgent scheduling, as well as for the taking of the practical exams for getting driving licenses.

During the documentation period, different episodes of influencing the examination commission members, urgent scheduling, bribing to facilitate the process of issuing the driving licenses were identified. The case that comprises at least 9 episodes, at this stage, was initiated for passive corruption, influence peddling, as well as active corruption. This morning, the NAC officers and anticorruption prosecutors carried out searches at the domiciles of the suspects and seized documents from the PSA.  As part of the investigation, mobile phones and other information carriers were seized for verification.

It should be mentioned, that the investigations started on March 19 and included special measures of investigation and prosecution, in order to identify the entire circle of suspects. The suspects are currently being questioned by the NAC in order to obtain explanations on the alleged facts. Both public figures and intermediaries and persons who have offered bribes in order to obtain illegal benefits are heard.

If found guilty, they risk between 5 and 10 years in prison.

The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office is conducting the criminal investigation.

We remind you that every person is presumed to be innocent until the final and irrevocable decision of the court is pronounced.