Moldovan agriculture minister suspected of taking bribe for illegal sale of 9.2 ha of land

Chisinau, 15 March /MOLDPRES/ - Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Eduard Grama today was detained for 72 hours, as he is suspected of taking bribe for illegal sale of 9.2 ha of lands adjacent to the National College of Vine Growing and Wine Making from Chisinau (CNVVC). The head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, Viorel Morari, made statements to this effect at a news briefing today.   

According to Morari, within a file on the sale of more than 30 ha of land in the Stauceni village, Chisinau municipality, which belonged to the aforementioned college, criminal files were opened on illegal actions undertaken by other leadership factors both from the Chisinau-based Centre of Excellence in Vine Growing and Wine Making and the didactic and experimental station from Stauceni.    

“The suspects, by their actions, aimed at dispossessing the institutions led of certain assets, especially lands, which have earlier belonged to CNVVC. As a result of the criminal investigation, law-enforcers established the circumstances on a corruption deed that would have been committed by Minister Eduard Grama. In this context, searches today were made both at the office and the home of Grama, in order to find out certain documents or other important acts for the criminal file,” Viorel Morari said.    

At the same time, the head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office said the money had been given by a CNVVC leader to fulfill certain actions concerning the lands of the College. “The person detained today was to undertake actions to help the suspects take possession of the 9.2 ha adjacent to the institution. At present, hearings are held. Later on, we will decide on the application of the preventive measure,” Morari also said.   

Anticorruption officers today detained Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Eduard Grama for 72 hours. The detention took place after carrying out searches at the headquarters of the ministry, in the minister’s office and then at his home. The raids took place within a file on corruption on the attempt of illegal sale of 30 ha of lands in the Stauceni village, which belonged to CNVVC.    

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)