A criminal investigation officer from the Ocnita Police Inspectorate, detained in November 2022 after demanding and receiving money to exert influence on judges from the Edinet Court of Appeal, Ocnita headquarters, and judges from the Balti Court of Appeal, has been sentenced to three years in prison for influence peddling. The sentence was pronounced on 3 February 2023 by the Edinet Court, central headquarters, reports the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA).

According to PA representatives, the criminal case was initiated in September 2022 by the territorial general directorate “North” of the National Anti-Corruption Centre (CNA), “after receiving a denunciation regarding the claim of the sum of 2,200 euros and the support of the prosecution officer in influencing the judges of the Edinet Court, Ocnita and the judges of the Court of Appeal of Balti in order to adopt a favourable decision in the criminal case pending against the complainant, namely that he should not be deprived of the right to drive a means of transport”.

“The complainant was sentenced by the first instance to 140 hours of unpaid community service, without deprivation of the right to drive means of transport. However, the sentence was challenged by the prosecutor and later overturned by the Balti Court of Appeal. The criminal prosecution in this criminal case lasted 3 months, the defendant admitted his guilt and the trial lasted 1 month”, the anti-corruption prosecutors announce.

Thus, by a sentence of February 3, 2023, the court found guilty the criminal investigation officer of the Ocnita Police Inspectorate of committing the offence provided for in Article 326 paragraph (2) letter d) and 326 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code (influence peddling) and imposed a final sentence of 3 years imprisonment, with serving the sentence in a semi-closed prison.

According to the PA, the defendant was remanded in custody from 15 November 2022 until 03 February 2023, with his remand being maintained until the sentence becomes final.

“It was also ordered the confiscation of the sum of 2200 Euro or their equivalent in national currency at the time of acquittal, with the forced and free transfer of the nominated funds to the use and property of the state,” the PA announced.

The sentence is subject to appeal to the Balti Court of Appeal within 15 days, say anti-corruption prosecutors.