Over 20 employees of bus stations prosecuted in corruption, abuse of office in Moldova

Chisinau, 17 July /MOLDPRES/ – There were detained 11 employees of State Enterprise "Garile si statiile auto" (Bus stations and stops) and another 12 persons were escorted today for hearings in several criminal cases initiated for passive, active corruption and abuse of office. The suspects are being investigated for organising schemes to accumulate around MDL 1.5 million per month from transport operators and national and international racing drivers to be exempt from controls.

The persons detained are: 4 administrators of territorial branches Balti, Edinet, Orhei and Causeni, 2 heads from territorial branch Centre (Chisinau), 2 controllers, 2 dispatchers and 1 cashier.

According to the CNA's information and media communication service, cashiers accumulated cash from drivers of all vehicles entering the Bus station by the end of each day, after which they forwarded money according to hierarchy. Following investigations, it was found out that funds collected monthly amounted up to MDL 1.5 million – money perceived as contentment from drivers for their exemption from controls. The drivers were obliged by transport operators to pay unlawful charges for each unit.

Avoidance of controls was desirable because most vehicles admitted more deviations, including: surplus of passengers, violation of circulation schedule, lack of records of purchased tickets, etc.

Also, within investigations, it was documented another scheme for acquiring public money by domain institution employees. According to investigation, the ones in luggage storage room would have perceived daily money from citizens for storing their luggage without reflecting the amounts in accounting. Subsequently, this money would have been taken by company employees.

The anticorruption officers and prosecutors have conducted searches today at bus stations in nine districts of Moldova – Cahul, Causeni, Orhei, Balti, Edinet, Drochia, Ungheni, Hancesti, Ialoveni, as well as in Chisinau municipality.

The nvestigations on this case continue.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)