The honorific consul of Syria and his brother are investigated for complicity in traffic of influence and, respectively, for traffic of influence. The police carried out searches at the homes of the two on February 25, IPN reports.
According to the National Anticorruption Center, a resident of Chisinau last December filed a complaint to the Center, saying that the brother of the consul of Syria asked for €1,800 from her for helping her obtain the documents needed to get an entry visa for Moldova for the relatives of her husband, who is a citizen of Syria. The woman said she was assured by the man that he has influence over employees of the Migration and Asylum Office and can make them issue the necessary documents.
Under the control of the Center, the woman transmitted the man €900. Ultimately, he refused to help the woman and promised he will give her the money back. This morning, officers of the Center and prosecutors intervened immediately after a tranche was paid back to the woman inside the Consulate. The young man was escorted to the National Anticorruption Center and placed under arrest for 72 hours.
The honorific consult of Syria was questioned in the presence of his lawyer and his interpreter. He refused yet to make statements. He is suspected of complicity in traffic of influence.
Under the legislation, the punishment for traffic of influence is up to six years in jail.
