NAC officers are searching a member of a political party in Cahul in an electoral corruption case

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and the prosecutors of the municipality of Cahul have announced searches of a resident of the village of Găvănoasa, Cahul district, investigated in a voter corruption case. According to preliminary information, during the constitutional referendum and the presidential elections in the fall of 2024, the person, acting as a representative of a political party, allegedly sent financial means through the PSB application to several persons with the right to vote, asking them to express their "NO" vote option in the referendum and to vote in favour of a certain presidential candidate.

Following the whistleblowing filed to the NAC by witnesses who claim to have received 2500 lei each from the member of the political party and following the criminal investigation carried out, the person was recognized as a suspect, and objects were seized from his residence to be subjected to expertise. We specify that, in accordance with art. 181/1 (al. 1) of the Criminal Code, offering or giving money, goods, services or other benefits for the purpose of determining the voter to exercise or not to exercise his electoral rights in the parliamentary, presidential, local elections or in the referendum is punishable by a fine of 550 to 850 conventional units or by imprisonment from one to 5 years. At the same time, persons who denounce the illicit acts and cooperate with the criminal investigation body may be released from criminal or contravention liability. To date, the NAC has imposed fines of over 11 million lei in cases of passive electoral corruption. Also, 10 criminal cases on electoral corruption have already reached the court.

Last week, the National Anti-corruption Centre launched the national campaign "I Decide with Integrity - I Vote with Accountability" - an initiative aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova. The objectives of the campaign are to raise citizens' awareness of the risks of electoral corruption, strengthen collaboration between state institutions, civil society and the media to prevent and combat electoral fraud, and inform and train public officials on integrity in the decision-making and electoral process.