The Chisinau Court, Buiucani, found two people guilty of committing the crime of influence peddling, in a case investigated by the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and proposed for trial by the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (AP). The court ordered the application of a fine in the amount of 140,000 lei and 125,000 lei, respectively. The court also ordered the confiscation of the equivalent of 1,500 euros and the amount of 58,000 lei from the account of one of the defendants, and from the second defendant – the amount of 1,000 euros and 6,000 lei, these being money received for committing the crime.

According to the evidence presented in court, during the period May 2017 – October 2018, one of the defendants, under the pretext of influencing local public authorities, including employees of the Rîșcani District Police Office, the Rîșcani District Police Inspectorate, the Chișinău District Court and the Chișinău City Hall, demanded and received money from a citizen to influence the legalization of an unauthorized construction located in the Chișinău municipality. Thus, not to document the case of illegal construction, the defendant demanded and received 1,500 euros to influence employees of the Rîșcani District Police Inspectorate and 1,000 euros to influence the head of the Architecture and Construction Service of the Rîșcani District Police Office.

At the same time, the defendant claimed and received 64,000 lei to influence public figures within the Chisinau Court, Rîșcani headquarters, to issue a favourable decision in the examination of the report on the contravention related to the unauthorized construction of the building in Chisinau municipality. Subsequently, part of these funds were transferred to the other defendant, who claimed that he could facilitate the legalization process.

The criminal investigation lasted 7 months and, although the defendants pleaded not guilty during the trial, which lasted more than 5 years, the court assessed the evidence administered and established their guilt. The sentence can be appealed to the Central Court of Appeal within 15 days.

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