Former deputy director of the Construction Center of Excellence in Chisinau, detained by the NAC for influence peddling

A former deputy director of Construction Center of Excellence in Chisinau was detained for 72 hours by the NAC and anti-corruption prosecutors. The man is suspected of claiming and receiving from two citizens of Chisinau 22 000 euros to help settle a dispute.

According to the whistleblowers, the former civil servant allegedly promised to help them win the lawsuit, in which the title of the student dormitory no. 5, located at 71/5 Gh. Asachi st. was disputed. In fact, the tenants of this dormitory, mostly teachers and students, requested the court to modify the title of the real property from dormitory, being under the management of the Construction Center of Excellence, into apartment building, to be able to privatize the rooms. In spite of the fact that the courts of the first instance and appeal rejected the tenants' petitions, the former deputy director of the Center would have claimed that he had influence over the magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice and that he could convince them adopt a favorable decision to the tenants. According to the whistleblowers, the suspect allegedly claimed 22 000 euros to solve the case, the entire amount of money was transmitted in 3 installments, however, he did not keep his promise.

On the basis of the denouncement, the NAC initiated a criminal case for influence peddling, and this morning detained the suspect. He is criminally investigated, placed in the detention center and if found guilty, faces up to 7 years in prison. The investigations in this case continue.

We remind, that every person is presumed to be innocent until the final and irrevocable decision of the court is pronounced.

The Anticorruption Prosecution Office is carrying out the criminal investigation.