Moldovan anticorruption officers detain 19 people on embezzlement of European funds

11:01 | 04.05.2017 Category: Social

Chisinau, 4 May /MOLDPRES/- Prosecutors and officers of the National Anticorruption Centre (CNA) conducted yesterday 39 searches at economic agents in the country, suspected of being part of a scheme of embezzlement of European funds. As a result, 19 people were detained.

According to CNA, the searches targeted project managers funded by EU and more companies that acted in complicity in order to own financial means in especially large proportions.

Among those detained are administrators of three economic agents, 12 employees and heads of companies being escorted to the CNA for further hearings. Four people suspected of organizing and implementing the scheme of misappropriation of money from European projects will be announced in search.

In 2011-2012 international experts worked out for the Criuleni district council two projects with environmental impact and improving the living conditions of the residents, which have been accepted with 5 million euros. Subsequently, in order to embezzle the money, the ex-chairman of the district, in complicity with project managers and a string of economic agents have appropriated funds in especially large proportions. To hide criminal actions, they purchased goods and services at increased prices, and the transactions on purchase of goods or services were paper-based.

One of the economic agents, investigated by the CNA and prosecutors, is also involved in another file, initiated by the Criuleni Police Inspectorate, on owning one million lei to purchase two cars. The case was joined to the prosecutors’ files to be investigated in a common procedure.

Following the yesterday’s searches, 15 people were escorted to the CNA as suspects, and 3 of them were placed in the cell for 72 hours. Under the legislation in force, embezzlement of foreign property is punished by up to 15 years of imprisonment.

Previously, several officials, including a minister, have been arrested for misappropriating European funds in similar files.

(Reporter A. Zara, editor M. Jantovan)

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