Five border guards received pre-trial detention warrants for 30 days at Penitentiary 13 and seven border guards received house arrest warrants for 30 days in a case of bribery at the Chișinău International Airport.

On September 29, the National Anticorruption Center conducted searches at Chișinău International Airport in a corruption case. Following the searches, 13 border guards were detained. According to National Anticorruption Center, the employees of the Border Police Sector of Chișinău International Airport, being in the exercise of their duties, in the context of restrictions imposed by the epidemiological situation, created and implemented a scheme for illicit obtaining of funds from passengers leaving the country and who had suspicions of possession and presentation of the COVID-19 PCR test with signs of forgery. The policemen involved in the service would have accepted and received systematically from the citizens who crossed the border of Moldova amounts between 50-100 euros.

Policemen allegedly extorted money from various persons, both Moldovan and foreign citizens. For illicit remuneration, policemen did not draw up minutes for non-compliance with measures of prophylaxis, prevention, and control of epidemic diseases, public health measures.

The case includes 15 border guards with suspicious status, of which 13 were detained. They are being investigated for passive corruption and risk up to 10 years in prison with deprivation of public office for up to 10 years.