The NAC Synthesis: searches in electoral corruption, influence trading and misappropriation of foreign assets and assets of over 4 million lei seized by the CARA

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) has presented a synthesis of the actions carried out in the previous week in the field of combating and preventing corruption, as well as on the recovery of criminal assets. During the reporting period, anti-corruption officers conducted searches in two cases regarding voter corruption and illegal financing of political parties. In the first case, a man from Chisinau was detained, suspected of involvement in the centralized transmission of financial means to several individuals, including civil servants who are in the process of identification. In the second case, a man from Anenii Noi is being investigated for identifying and recruiting voters, to whom he allegedly promised or offered money, assets or other undue benefits to influence the vote in favour of a political party.

During the same period, the NAC officers conducted searches in a embezzlement case involving the illegal seizure of ownership of a seagoing vessel valued at 26,000,000 dollars. Investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals involved and recover damages. In another case, a man from Florești district was detained for influence peddling, suspected of demanding 2,000 euros to influence members of the examination committee in order to obtain a driving license.

Convictions: The court issued the sentence in a case of influence peddling and active corruption, investigated by the NAC and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. A former head of a customs post in Chisinau was sentenced to 2 years in prison, with a conditional suspension of the execution of the sentence for a probationary period of 3 years, a fine of 400,000 lei and deprivation of the right to exercise public functions for a period of 5 years. During the week, 12 new criminal cases were initiated. Currently, 2 people are in the NAC detention centre, and 9 people detained in files managed by the institution are in preventive detention in penitentiary institutions.

The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) has seized assets worth a total of over 4 million lei in files related to fraud, organizing illegal migration, illegal logging of forest vegetation and violating traffic safety rules. At the same time, the courts confirmed previously applied seizures of assets estimated at over 2.8 million lei.

In the field of corruption prevention, the NAC Legislation Department finalized and submitted to the authors 14 expert reports and an opinion on draft normative acts. Also, 3 operational analyses were initiated, 92 integrity records were issued and anti-corruption trainings were organized for 550 public figures.

During the reference period, 88 calls were received at the National Anti-corruption Line and 1,673 materials were registered in the NAC Chancellery.