Interior Minister about detention of six police officers in corruption case

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has zero tolerance for any act of corruption and illegal actions committed by its employees. The General Police Inspectorate (GPI) will cooperate with all competent institutions in this case to ensure the proper conduct of the investigation. Minister of Internal Affairs Daniella Misail-Nichitin made the statement in the context of the detention of six employees of Botanica Police Inspectorate (PI) in a case of passive and active corruption.

The official underlined that, during the searches carried out in this case, law enforcement bodies also seized prohibited items, which are to be subjected to expert examination.


"Several of the employees concerned have been detained to ensure an impartial conduct of the investigation. The management of the Botanica PI has been suspended until the completion of all investigative procedures. Following these, we will come back with additional information. I assure you that we are acting in accordance with the law and established procedures," stated Daniella Misail-Nichitin.


The head of the GPI, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, mentioned that he will not tolerate illegal actions and that those who commit them must be held accountable.


"The investigation is ongoing. I ordered the suspension from duties of the inspectorate’s management and the employees concerned in order to have a fair investigation, free from influence," noted Viorel Cernăuțeanu.


A section chief and five employees of the Botanica PI in the capital have been detained in cases of passive and active corruption committed under aggravated circumstances. More than 30 searches were carried out in this case at several locations in the municipality of Chișinău, including in the offices of some employees of the inspectorate.

The criminal investigation actions targeted acts of systematic demanding and receiving of financial means, in amounts ranging between 3,000 and 10,000 dollars, both in cash and in virtual currency. The money was offered by persons involved in the use and illicit trafficking of drugs.