Moldovan anticorruption centre provides new details on searches made at customs checkpoint

Chisinau, 13 December /MOLDPRES/ – The Sculeni customs post collaborators, which were detained by prosecutors and anticorruption officers, demanded and received money from citizens crossing the state border not to perform goods checks. The statement was made today by the head of National Anti-corruption Agency (CAN) prosecution Bogdan Zumbreanu, during a press briefing.

According to him, the prosecution initiated in late October for passive corruption committed by Customs Service officials. "Extorting money was not to check the goods on entry, not to indicate the exact amount of goods and execution of import. Following these actions, the state budget lacked financial resources which had to be paid as tax or customs duty on import of goods. The amounts ranged between 50 and 200 euros, depending on goods value to be imported. Later on, the prosecutions will assess damage to the state budget," said Zumbreanu.

Totally, there were performed eighteen searches today, which resulted by detention of fifteen employees: Ungheni Customs Office chief, his deputy, the chief customs Sculeni, three tour heads and nine customs officials. "Searches were conducted at residences, offices and automobiles service of detained persons," Zumbreanu said.

Within next 72 hours, prosecutors will decide whether steps will be submitted on the application of the preventive measure of arrest.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)