CASE AGAINST EX-DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER SUBMITTED TO COURT

Prosecutors transmitted to court the materials of criminal case against former Deputy Minister of Finance Maria Caraus, accused of corruption, as well as of attempts to falsify the results of contests on getting financing by state institutions.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) press-release, the investigation established that Caraus, knowing about the allocation of 15 million lei from the reserve fund for modernizing the infrastructure of the Republican Clinical Hospital, said to its representatives that the decision on issuing funds depends exclusively on her and asked for remuneration – 5% from the received sum. The official also promised help to the Hospital in getting certain sums during the budget revision in autumn 2017.

Besides, she demanded to contribute to victory of certain building companies at public auctions, from which she also hoped to get 5% from the contract cost.

Caraus is being held under arrest till the trial. In relation to economic agents who agreed to cooperate and witnessed against the official, their cases will be considered in a special regime in the court. The former deputy minister risks to get 15 years.

Caraus was appointed as Deputy Minister of Finance in December 2010. Before, she was head of Chisinau Primaria Main Department for Finance.