Prosecutors from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA), together with officers of the National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA), are carrying out around 30 searches today as part of a criminal investigation into abuse of office and the fraudulent acquisition of funds from external financing, TRIBUNA reports.

The operation targets several businesses and public officials.

According to the investigation, beginning in 2020, a representative of a company specializing in the design of water supply and sewerage systems allegedly created a corruption scheme that favored certain companies in public procurement tenders financed with external funds.

Investigators say that technical specifications and tender documentation for public procurement contracts were drafted in a way that matched exclusively the products of a specific supplier. These requirements were allegedly coordinated in advance to ensure that contracts funded by external sources would be awarded to pre-selected companies.

As a result, contracting authorities are believed to have purchased materials and equipment at prices higher than those that could have been obtained through genuine competition.

Authorities estimate that the scheme caused particularly large losses to both the national budget and external funds allocated for water supply and sewerage infrastructure projects. The preliminary damage is estimated at 14,544,504.11 Moldovan lei.

As part of the criminal investigation, approximately 30 searches are being conducted in several localities across the country to establish all the circumstances of the case and identify everyone involved.

Three people have been detained for 72 hours and placed in the CNA detention facility, while seven others have been formally designated as suspects and remain under investigation while at liberty. The investigation is ongoing.