A woman was convicted of alleged influence peddling against prosecutors and judges, in a case investigated by the National Anti-corruption Centre

The Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, found a woman guilty of committing the crime of influence peddling, in the case documented by officers of the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and proposed to trial by the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (AP). The court ordered a prison sentence for a period of 6 years, with the application of the preventive measure of preventive arrest, but she managed to leave the courtroom before the sentence was pronounced. The court also ordered the confiscation of the defendant's account, for the benefit of the state, of the funds obtained by committing the crime, namely the amount of 964,139.20 lei, the equivalent of 47,000 euros.

The criminal case was initiated in May 2022, based on a whistleblowing. According to the evidence accumulated over 1 year and 2 months - the defendant, in September 2021, knowing that the whistleblower's husband had the status of a defendant in a criminal case under the management of prosecutors from the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases, informed her that she had influence over prosecutors and judges. Thus, to determine the prosecutors and judges to release him from detention and order his acquittal, the defendant claimed and received in several instalments the total amount of 47,000 euros.

Although the defendant pleaded not guilty during the trial, which lasted 1 year and 7 months, the court assessed the evidence administered and established her guilt. In addition to the sentence ordered, to ensure special confiscation, the court maintained the seizure applied to the assets belonging to the defendant and ordered the confiscation of a mobile phone, recognized as a criminal offense.

The sentence can be appealed to the Central Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Note: The person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent as long as his guilt is not established by a final court decision.