Confiscated goods, money from crimes to be used on social, public interest purposes in Moldova

Goods and money confiscated from illegal activities can be used on social purposes and in the interest of citizens. The cabinet of ministers has approved a draft law that allows these resources to reach schools, hospitals or placement centers.

According to the new mechanism, after the goods are confiscated under a final decision, they will become state property and will be evaluated by the Fiscal Service. Subsequently, the data will be submitted to the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency (ARBI), which will publish the list on the National Anticorruption Center's website. Public institutions or non-governmental organizations will be able to request their use within a period of 90 days.

A special commission, which will include representatives of more institutions, as well as of the civil society, will analyze the applications and decide how the goods will be distributed. If no one requests a certain item, it will remain under state management.

For instance, a minibus previously used in an illegal scheme and then confiscated could be freely transferred to a placement center that needs transport for children.

The new law also regulates how confiscated money will be distributed. Part of it will go to the state budget and another part will be used for social projects proposed by non-governmental organizations or to support public authorities in  such sectors as education, health, environmental protection or justice.