Moldovan National Anticorruption Centre detains two representatives of political bloc in Balti

Chisinau, 1 November /MOLDPRES/ - Two representatives of a political bloc today were detained following searches made at the headquarters of the two Balti-based territorial offices of the formation, as well as the homes of the suspects. The actions took place within criminal files opened on deeds of electoral corruption, illegal financing of political parties and money laundering, committed by an organized crime ring.      

According to the National Anticorruption Centre (CNA), the suspects would have provided financial means to voters, so that the latter exercise their electoral rights in favour of a candidate registered in electoral race at the presidential polls. Presently, they are detained for 72 hours and are to be placed at CNA’s insulation ward.    

Today morning, CNA informed that, so far, it had imposed fines worth over 3.5 million lei for the committing of the contravention ‘’passive electoral corruption.’’ The institution considers, in continuation, the official reports received, and is to take decisions on them.  

CNA reiterated that the people providing money to influence the results of a ballot run the risk of 1 to 5 years of imprisonment and fine worth over 50,000 lei. At the same time, the illegal financing of political parties from banned sources is punished with up to 6 years of imprisonment and with fine worth over 67,000 lei. To ensure the recovery of the damage, the law-enforcement institutions can levy distraint on the person’s assets.  

Also, the people who cooperate with the law-enforcement bodies are released from criminal or civil liability, if they denounced themselves and actively contributed to the discovery or counteraction of the committing of the electoral corruption deed.