Two men have been detained by National Anti-Corruption Centre (CNA) officers and anti-corruption prosecutors in an influence peddling case. They allegedly promised a young man that they could intervene with prosecutors handling a smuggling case to get them to reclassify the offence as a lesser one. For this, the suspects allegedly demanded €15,000 from the young man, the CNA reports.

According to the case materials, the suspects allegedly held several negotiations with the person under investigation for smuggling, initially demanding 9,000 euros from him and then another 6,200 euros. According to the CNA, the suspects allegedly received their money in two instalments, claiming that they would solve the problem.

“On 30 June this year, prosecutors and CNA officers initiated a criminal case for influence peddling, and this morning (7 September editor’s note) they carried out searches at the homes of the two suspects. Both were detained for 72 hours and placed in the CNA isolation unit,” the National Anti-Corruption Centre said in a statement.

Currently, according to CNA officers, criminal prosecution actions are taking place to establish all the circumstances of the case. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is leading the prosecution.