The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (AP) announces the completion of the criminal prosecution and referral to court for examination on the merits of the criminal case against the former head of the State Energy Inspectorate, charging him with the offence of exceeding his official duties. The criminal prosecution was initiated by the National Anti-Corruption Centre on the basis of a referral from the National Integrity Authority (ANI) on the July 2020 finding in the name of Iacov Timciuc.

“During the criminal prosecution, it was established that the accused, acting as head of the State Energy Inspectorate, signed in situations of conflict of interest 21 administrative acts concerning his own person, granting in violation of legal norms and contractual clauses awards, material aid and salary bonuses, causing considerable damages in the total amount of 81,744.5 lei,” the AP release reads.

The accused did not admit his guilt and the criminal case was sent to the Buiucani court for examination on the merits.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the law provides for a fine of 32,500 to 57,500 lei or imprisonment of up to three years for the offence, in both cases with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for two to five years.

ZdG wrote in July 2020 that ANI had issued a finding against the former head of the State Energy Inspectorate (IES), Iacov Timciuc, who admitted violating the legal regime of conflicts of interest.

Between 2012 and 2019, Timciuc, while serving as head of the Inspectorate, allegedly took decisions and signed 136 administrative and legal acts – 21 acts concerning himself and 115 acts concerning his son-in-law, whom he allegedly hired in 2011.

According to the materials in the file, the integrity inspector established that by signing administrative acts concerning him, the former head of IES allegedly obtained illegal benefits in the amount of 81 700 lei.

The former head of the IES, in 2018, signed an internal order appointing his son-in-law as his deputy, who was to hold the position during the reorganization of the IES by merger with the National Agency for Energy Regulation. In turn, between 2012 and 2018, the son-in-law allegedly earned from the 115 administrative and legal acts – various awards and substantial salary increases of 15%, 25% and 30% of his salary.

Timciuc entered the 2019 competition for the position of director of the Board of Directors of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE). In 2009, for a period of about three months, he held the position of Minister of Local Public Administration, from 2001 to 2005 he headed the Ministry of Energy, and before that he was First Deputy Minister of Economy. Timciuc has also been a member of parliament and ambassador to China and Korea.