A former Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice will face charges of influence peddling

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) announces on Wednesday, March 29, the completion of the criminal prosecution and referral to the court for examination on the merits of the criminal case against a former official of the Ministry of Justice, who is charged with the crime of influence peddling.

The criminal case was initiated in May 2022, by the prosecution body of the National Anti-Corruption Centre on the basis of a citizen’s complaint according to which the accused, knowing that the complainant wanted to obtain the authorization as an authorized administrator, allegedly demanded the sum of 10,000 euros and received 6,000 euros, claiming to have influence over the members of the Authorization and Discipline Commission regarding the passing of the qualification examination in the profession of administrator in the Ministry of Justice.

“The accused claimed that he could induce them to carry out actions in the exercise of their office, namely to promote the complainant to obtain the license of authorized administrator, but he did not honor his promise,” reads a statement issued by the PA.

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

For the offence committed (art. 326 para. (1) of the Criminal Code) the law provides for the maximum penalty in the form of a fine of 100 000 to 150 000 lei or imprisonment for up to 6 years.

At the same time, in order to guarantee the execution of the fine, two pieces of land belonging to the accused, worth approximately 200 000 lei, were seized.

The ex-secretary was detained in August 2022 by officers of the National Anti-Corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors of the PA. On the morning of Tuesday, 23 August, searches were carried out at the suspect’s home and at the office of the head of the Union of Authorised Administrators.