The head of the Leuseni phytosanitary checkpoint of the National Food Safety Agency was arrested by officers of the National Anticorruption Center and anticorruption prosecutors on charges of abuse of power and passive corruption. The representative of a company was arrested on suspicion of active corruption in the same case, IPN reports.
According to the National Anticorruption Center, the head of the phytosanitary checkpoint abused his position and instructed veterinarians and phytosanitary doctors to place obstacles to companies that import food products into Moldova so as to make these ask for his personal assistance. Later, the functionaries asked money from the business entities for solving the problem.
It was established that the phytosanitary checkpoint’s chief regularly received different sums of money in “salary” or “protection taxes” for each consignment of food products imported weekly through the Leuseni customs post and the Tudora and Criva customs posts. The functionary will also be investigated for unjust enrichment.
The head of the phytosanitary checkpoint was placed under arrest for 72 hours. A representative of the company that regularly paid bribe is also under arrest. The case is handled by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office.
