The Head of a Public Food Enterprise, investigated by the National Anti-corruption Centre, was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of suspended prison and a fine of 575,000 lei for 3 episodes of passive corruption

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, found the Director of a Municipal Public Food Enterprise guilty of committing three episodes of passive corruption. The court ordered, for concurrent offenses, a prison sentence of 4 years and 6 months, suspended for a period of 3 years, a fine of 575,000 Lei and deprivation of the right to hold public office for a period of 7 years. The case was initiated and investigated by officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) in 2022.

According to the case materials, the defendant allegedly demanded and received from representatives of 3 companies funds in a total amount of over 81,000 lei (money representing the share of the price difference following the fictitious increase in the price of food products delivered to the Municipal Enterprise), to accept the offers proposed by them and continue purchasing food products, as well as not to terminate existing contracts.

The criminal investigation lasted 2 years and 7 months, and the trial of the case lasted three months, with the defendant concluding a plea agreement. Thus, the court established his guilt and ordered the transfer to the state of the funds discovered and seized during the search of the defendant's home, namely: 41,800 lei, 7,500 Romanian lei, 3,260 euros and 260 US dollars, as proceeds of crime.

At the same time, in order to guarantee the execution of the fine, the seizure, applied by the NAC's Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (CARA) on 1,000,000 lei, held by the defendant in a bank account, was maintained.

The sentence is final, but can be appealed to the Chisinau Court of Appeal within 15 days, invoking only the procedural errors and the established penalty.

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