In addition to the prison term, the Chisinau-based Buiucani Sector Court imposed a fine of 450,000 lei and a 12-year ban from holding public office.
According to the case materials, in 2017, while holding the position of vice minister and supervising the financing of health care and social protection, the former deputy minister facilitated the allocation of 15 million lei from the government’s reserve fund for the Republican Clinical Hospital. The investigation claims that later she tried to use this decision in interests related to the payment of her relatives’ debts by proposing a scheme to manipulate the tender for repair works.
According to the investigation, the official demanded illegal remuneration of about 425,000 lei (5% of the contract) and offered similar sums to other participants in the process for ensuring the victory of a certain company in the public procurement.
The verdict can be appealed to the Court of Appeal within 15 days. Until the verdict enters into legal force, the defendant is subject to a preventive measure – a ban on leaving the country.
As noted in the verdict announced on March 26, the case concerns former deputy minister Maria Careusz.
