Searches take place in Moldovan capital's educational system for passive bribery, abuse of office; nine people targeted

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, in collaboration with officers of the National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA), are currently conducting searches in a criminal case concerning passive bribery and abuse of office in the educational system of the Chisinau municipality.

According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA), nine people are targeted in the case, including a head of the General Directorate of Education, Youth, and Sports (DGETS), two headmasters of gymnasium and lyceum, a head of a preschool institution and more economic agents.

Prosecutors say that the public officials, along with more economic agents, allegedly implemented a scheme to rig public procurement in preschool and school institutions. They are suspected of demanding and receiving commissions ranging from 10 to 15 per cent of the value of the contracts awarded for works and services.

Investigations showed that, to circumvent legal bidding procedures, the works were artificially divided into several small-value contracts, concluded through direct negotiations with favored economic operators.

Presently, the PA and the CNA are undertaking criminal inquiry actions at the homes and offices of the targeted individuals, as well as at the headquarters of the involved economic agents. Documents, electronic media, accounting records and sums of money have been seized during the searches, the origin of which is yet to be established.

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and CNA continue their investigations, in order to establish all circumstances and the entire criminal chain.