Six people detained following searches carried out at AIPA

Chisinau, 24 Jan. /MOLDPRES/- Six people were detained, and 24 others are to be questioned as suspects following searches carried out today at employees of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA), local public authorities and several economic agents. The announcement was made by the chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, during a joint press briefing with director of the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) Iulian Rusu.

The leadership of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office said that 68 searches were carried out today. "The actions took place in Chisinau, Balti, Comrat, Glodeni, Sângerei, Râșcani, Fălești and Drochia. At the same time, six other people are being investigated while at liberty," said Veronica Dragalin.

CNA head Iulian Rusu said that the investigations are taking place within 26 criminal cases initiated for abuse of power or abuse of office, passive corruption, active corruption, influence peddling and money laundering.

"The files concern AIPA's management of funds from several projects. Schemes were established whereby 10% of the funds offered contrary to legal provisions were transferred to AIPA officials. The amounts reached up to 150 thousand lei (about 7,500 euros) per subsidy contract. In another office in the south of the country, more than 100 thousand lei were offered", said Iulian Rusu.

According to the investigation, the actors involved in the scheme were AIPA officials, representatives of commercial companies and public associations. At the same time, the actual beneficiaries of the enterprises were including several mayors. The investigations concern the LEADER Program and the Project on the granting of payments for the improvement of the standard of living and work in rural areas. The anti-corruption bodies are to establish whether European Union funds were involved in the scheme.

During today's searches, more than 350 thousand lei, 10 thousand euros, two thousand dollars, mobile phones, a computer and two weapons were seized. Investigations into this case continue to establish all the circumstances and ways of providing subsidies.