Moldovan PM demands that customs officers make sure they commit no abuses in work

Chisinau, 12 September /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Pavel Filip today demanded that the customs heads do not allow abuses in their work. This happened after the PM had received a letter from a citizen telling him that he was obliged to pay a customs duty of 900 lei for clothes worth 2,600 lei, bought in Romanian for his two daughters, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   

„I do not think that this is the true contraband brought in Moldova. Please, convey to Mr. Vrabie and Mr. Armasu: let us not mock at people. I understand that those holding positions in customs have this possibility. But let’s do our job and find the money failing to enter the state budget, the millions which flow. And just do not mock at poor people, who have just brought clothes for their children. We have what to fight against, we have where to look for money, we have where to bring money to the budget from; yet, do not choose the easiest way to mock at people, in order to show how strong you are and show your muscles,” the prime minister said.    

Filip noted that, although this citizen had been described as merchant, at the mercy of the customs officer, the man crossed the border only two times this year. “I was shocked also by the answer received from the customs that the concerned customs inspector cannot be sanctioned, as there are no real reasons to do this. At the same time, he was warned not to admit such cases in the long run. My personal opinion is that such personages have no longer right to work in the Customs Service,” the prime minister said.    

Pavel Filip asked the decision-makers to investigate the situation and return the money to the concerned citizen, as well as to report him about the actions undertaken till the end of this week. Under the law, customs duty is not imposed if goods for personal use are brought to Moldova, as well as if the value of the goods does not exceed 300 euros.