Moldovan deputy finance minister to stay 30 days in preventive arrest

Chisinau, 9 October /MOLDPRES/- Deputy Finance Minister Maria Caraus and two businessmen, detained on Friday for corruption, got 30 days of preventive arrest. The decision was taken yesterday by the magistrates of the Chisinau Court, Buiucani.

The fourth suspect in the same case was released after he decided to collaborate with the investigation. Caraus denies all the accusations.

Under CNA data, the official knowing that the government ordered the allocation of 15 million lei from the reserve fund for strengthening the technical-material base of the Republican Clinical Hospital, would have tried to convince the hospital management that the transfer of this money depends on her decision, and for the hospital to benefit from the amount, a reward must be offered to her.

She would also have asked the representative of hospital to favor people from construction companies at the tender, due on 11 October 2017. In exchange of their designation as winners, the official would have promised the institution’s representative a reward of 5 per cent of the amount and other 5 per cent would be returned to her.

If they are found guilty, both the official and businessmen detained in this case, are liable to up to 15 years in prison with a fine of up to 500,000 lei, with deprivation of the right to hold certain public positions for a period of 10 to 15 years.

(Reporter A. Zara, editor L. Alcază)