A Member of Parliament from Gagauzia, criminally investigated for influence peddling by the NAC, will appear in the court after the prosecutors have completed the criminal investigation on the case. Today, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office has announced the completion of the criminal investigation and the referral to the court for examination of the criminal case accusing an MP in UTA Găgăuzia, being charged with the crime of influence peddling (art. 326 para. (2 ) letter c) of the Criminal Code).

The criminal investigation was started in March 2023, by the National Anticorruption Center based on a complaint.

According to the materials, the accused, between October 2019 and August 2021, claimed and received in three installments from the whistleblower a total of 12,000 euros, claiming that, through other people, he has influence over the judge of the Chisinau District Court, the headquarters of the Center, which examined the civil case in which the whistleblower was the defendant. However, the civil case was not resolved in favor of the whistleblower.

The accused did not admit his guilt, the criminal case being sent for examination to the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters.

If he is found guilty of committing the incriminated crime, the defendant risks a penalty in the form of a fine ranging from 150,000 to 200,000 lei or imprisonment from 2 to 7 years.

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