Conclusion of criminal proceedings against former Public Services Agency director Serghei Railean, accused of exceeding his official duties and forgery of public documents

The Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), with the support of the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS), has completed the criminal prosecution of the former director of the Public Services Agency (ASP), Serghei Railean, accused of issuing dozens of identity cards and passports in violation of procedures, including in the absence of applicants – persons affiliated with Vladimir Plahotniuc. More specifically, PCCOCS prosecutors accuse Railean of overstepping his official duties and forgery of public documents.

“According to criminal law, the punishment prescribed for the first offence is imprisonment for a term of 6 to 10 years, with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for a term of 10 to 15 years, and for the second – a fine of up to 117 500 lei or imprisonment for a term of 1 to 6 years, in both cases with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for a term of 5 to 10 years. However, until a final judgment is handed down, he is presumed innocent” PCCOCS announced in a press release.

In order to ensure compensation for the damage caused to the state by the offences in question, prosecutors have ordered the application of precautionary measures. PCCOCS notes that “the charge against the former director of the ASP concerns the commission of the acts under investigation in favour of the criminal organisation “Plahotniuc.” As for the accomplices in the commission of the crimes under investigation, the criminal prosecution is in its final phase.”

In 2021, Serghei Railean, was detained for 72 hours. According to PCCOCS, Railean was detained for abuse and exceeding the duties of his office, following searches conducted by PCCOCS prosecutors jointly with SIS officers.

“There is a reasonable suspicion that he has committed several offences related to abuse and exceeding of service duties while leading the ASP, including the documentation of several dignitaries, in particular the citizen Plahotniuc Vladimir,” say representatives of SIS and PCCOCS prosecutors.

As a result of the searches carried out at the suspect’s home, “carriers of information were seized in Chisinau, which will be subjected to computer forensics for the objective continuation of the investigations”.

Serghei Railean, former director of ASP, was detained for 72 hours
On 3 May 2022, the former director of the Public Services Agency (ASP), Serghei Railean, was detained for 72 hours in a criminal case for abuse of office concerning the procurement process of blankets.

Anti-corruption prosecutors together with officers from the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS), the National Anti-Corruption Centre (NAC) and the Internal Protection and Anti-Corruption Service of the Interior Ministry (MAI) are carrying out around 50 searches at the Public Services Agency (ASP) on 3 May in a criminal case for abuse of office concerning the procurement process of blankets.