The NAC Synthesis: A state secretary placed in preventive arrest in a corruption case, searches carried out at MoldATSA and seizures applied to assets worth over 6.8 million lei
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) presents the main actions carried out in the previous week in the field of combating and preventing corruption, as well as the recovery of criminal assets. During the reporting period, the NAC officers and anti-corruption prosecutors detained a state secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture and a representative of a private company in a criminal case initiated on corruption charges. The official allegedly accepted money from the economic agent to influence persons with responsible positions within the National Food Safety Agency, to resume the import permit for poultry and animal feed from Ukraine, previously suspended due to irregularities. The Chisinau Court, Ciocana headquarters, ordered the placement of the state secretary in preventive arrest for 30 days, and the company representative – for 20 days.
Searches were also carried out at the headquarters of the State Enterprise “MoldATSA” in a high-profile case regarding abuse of office in aggravating circumstances. The criminal case was initiated shortly after the completion of the institutional integrity assessment carried out at the enterprise, following the accumulation of information indicating the existence of reasonable suspicions regarding the commission of the investigated crime.
Also last week, the NAC officers carried out searches at a lawyer’s home, in a case of influence peddling and fraud. He is suspected of having demanded and received from the relatives of some clients the total amount of 6,500 euros and 16,000 lei. The money was taken under the pretext of providing fictitious legal services, hiring an independent expert and influencing magistrates from the Court of Appeal to obtain favorable decisions.
During the reference period, criminal investigation officers reported the initiation of 10 new criminal cases. Currently, two people are in the detention centre, and eight other people, accused in the files managed by the NAC, are placed in preventive detention in two penitentiary institutions.
The Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) seized 26 assets worth over 6.8 million lei. Other previously applied seizures worth over 6.5 million lei were confirmed by the courts.
In the field of corruption prevention, the NAC submitted to the authors 34 expert reports and 9 opinions on draft normative acts. Also, 152 integrity records were cleared, an operational and tactical analysis were conducted, and about 700 people participated in anti-corruption training. The National Anti-corruption Line received 32 calls, and 1,837 materials were registered in the institution's office.