Cans, toilet paper and pictures of April protests for Gumenita

A number of young people representing nongovernmental organizations brought cans, toilet paper, books about the human rights and CDs with pictures of the April 8, 2009 protests at the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crime on April 16. All these things were designed for the former municipal police chief Iacob Gumenita, who was arrested for 10 days, Info-Prim Neo reports. The young people said they will bring other things as well if Iacob Gumenita needs and will visit him as they show thus civic spirit. Ion Guzun, project coordinator at the Moldova Institute for Human Rights, came with tea, a hot pie and a set of books about state guaranteed legal aid, torture, arrest and search. “I brought him tea and a pie to warm his soul, as well as spiritual food. I think he needs it and will read them (the books – e.n.),” said Ion Guzun. Irina Chirica, of the association Hyde Park, came with books about how to protect oneself from corruption and about access to information, a newspaper with a picture showing Gumenita kicking a protester and CDs about the April 2009 protests. She said the books could help Gumenita understand his mistakes, stressing that the young people are not like the former police chief. Iacob Gumenita was hospitalized with hypertension on the day when he was to be questioned as a suspect in the legal cases related to the April 2009 events. Ghenadie Brega, a member of Hyde Park, said all those who fall sick suddenly and stay in hospital just feign. “We do not believe that they are ill. We now collect humanitarian aid and will make sure that Gumenita gets it,” he said. Iacob Gumenita was arrested on April 15. The former police chief of the municipality of Chisinau is suspected of misuse of power on the night of April 8. He appears in the pictures taken by the video cameras from the Government Building and is shown kicking protesters in Chisinau's central square.