Searches in case involving defrauding of external funds in Moldova; damage exceeds 14.5 million lei

Approximately 30 searches today are being carried out in more localities of Moldova, in a case of abuse of office and fraudulent getting of funds from external sources. Three people have been detained for 72 hours, and the preliminary damage is estimated at over 14.5 million lei.

According to the National Anticorruption Center (CNA), the actions are being conducted by the institution’s officers, together with prosecutors from the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA), and target more economic agents and public officials.

According to the case materials, starting from 2020, a representative of a company specialized in designing water supply and sewerage systems allegedly set up a scheme through which certain companies were favored in public tenders financed from external funds.

Investigators say that the technical documentation and terms of reference for public procurement were drawn up in such a way that the technical requirements corresponded exclusively to the products of a specific supplier. According to the CNA, these actions were allegedly coordinated in advance, so that the tenders would be won by predetermined companies.

As a result, the contracting authorities are believed to have purchased materials and equipment at higher prices than those that would have resulted under conditions of genuine competition. According to the investigators, the state budget and external funds meant for the implementation of infrastructure projects in the water supply and sewerage sector were allegedly damaged to a particularly large extent, with the estimated amount of damage being 14,544,504.11 lei.

As part of the criminal investigation, about 30 searches are being carried out to document all circumstances and identify the persons involved.

Three people have been detained for 72 hours and placed in the CNA detention facility. Another seven people have been recognized as suspects and are being investigated at large.

The investigations are ongoing.