Four people were detained on Friday, November 11, in Orhei on suspicion of organizing a corruption scheme in the issuing of driving licenses. They are the head of the examination commission of the Orhei territorial subdivision, a car instructor and two intermediaries. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) is currently investigating a number of criminal cases for influence peddling, passive and active corruption, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) said in a statement.

According to the prosecution data, from 2020 until now, the chairman of the examination commission of the Orhei territorial subdivision of the Department for registration of means of transport and qualification of drivers of the Public Services Agency (ASP), together with a car instructor, two intermediaries and other persons, currently unidentified by the prosecution, allegedly organized a criminal scheme of bribery, through which they received illicit remuneration.

“Following investigations, it was found that the members of the group allegedly demanded and accepted 500 euros per candidate for the qualification ‘passed’ in the theoretical test and 1,200 euros for the theoretical and practical tests.

Subsequently, the money was distributed among the participants involved in the illegal scheme, according to a pre-established algorithm, depending on the role and contribution of each,” the PG announced.

Thus, according to law enforcement officers, candidates for the driving license exam were enrolled only in certain driving schools, and after completing the training courses, they were registered for the arranged tests.

“On the day of the theoretical test, the candidates were equipped with camouflaged audio/video equipment by some driving instructors who, during the theoretical test, communicated the correct answers to them,” the Prosecutor General’s Office also reports.

At the moment, 19 authorised searches are taking place with the support of officers from the National Anti-Corruption Centre (CNA), aimed at collecting evidence from members of the group, suspected of arranging examinations to obtain driving licences.