A senior specialist at the Chisinau Department for Architecture, Urban and Land Matters was arrested by the National Anticorruptiom Center (NAC) on charges of bribery.

According to NAC, the suspect requested a €2,200 bribe from a Chisinau resident for speeding up permitting procedures for a residential house. The functionary reportedly claimed he also had the capacity to influence people at the Construction Inspectorate to fast-track the matter.

The functionary now faces up to 10 years in prison with a fine of up to 8,000 conventional units and a ban from certain public posts for a period of up to 10 years.

Chisinau's acting chief architect Ion Carpov told IPN the functionary will be suspended from his job only if there is a formal request from the anti-corruption officers.