Two prosecutors from Chisinau, a senior prosecution officer, an investigation officer and an ex-police officer who were arrested on January 16 were charged with passive corruption of considerable size, IPN reports.

The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office said the judge of inquiry was asked to issue remand detention warrants for 30 days for four of the suspects. The prosecution officer of the Ciocana Police Inspectorate will be investigated outside remand.

It was established that the accused received bribe from the managers of a firm investigated for tax evasion. For US$6 000 and €70 000, the prosecutors and prosecution officers were to drop the case and charges against the three businessmen. When these received a part of the asked sum, the prosecutors and police officers arranged the release of the three businessmen from remand detention under judicial control and gave them back a part of the things and documents seized during searches.

The five accused men face seven to 15 years in jail for passive corruption.