The Cahul Appeals Court decided to change the preventive measure imposed on the two suspects investigated in the case of doctoral theses. The dead of the Faculty of Law of the State University of Moldova Sergiu Brânza and the doctorate coordinator of the same institution were transferred from preventive detention under house arrest.

Contacted by IPN, press officer of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office Anastasia Mihălceanu said the defense’s application was examined by the appeals court of Cahul, not that of Chisinau as the dean’s wife is a judge of the Chisinau Appeals Court and there was a situation of conflict of interests. 

The two culprits were arrested on October 9. The dean of the Faculty of Law is accused of receiving money from the doctorate coordinator for helping two students to get ‘pass’ on their doctoral theses. On October 12, the Chisinau Appeals Court placed the suspects under preventive detention for 30 days.