The Director of the Scientific-Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Food Technologies, Dr. Ilie Donica, has accused the President of the Moldovan Academy of Sciences (MAS), Academician Gheorghe Duca of creating fraudulent schemes of stealing public funds.

 

Speaking at a news conference at Infotag today, the scientist said that the schemes involved also the president’s wife – Maria Duca, who heads the University of the Academy of Sciences.

 

According to Donica, in 2014 alone the married coupe received 900 thousand lei from the State Budget “by using criminal schemes”.

 

He underlined that according to the couple’s statements of income for 2014, Gheorghe Duca, who is a member of the Moldovan Government, received over 500,000 lei in salary, and his wife – more than 400,000 lei.

 

“The salary of the Academy President is thus 4 times higher than that of the head of state, of the Prime Minister and of all highest-paid civil servants”, stated the scientist.

 

Ilie Donica voiced indignation that Academician Duca holds simultaneously 3 posts – as Academy President, as professor in a university, and as a researcher at the MAS Institute of Chemistry.

 

“To receive such salaries, over half a million lei a year, Mr. Duca must work more than 24 hours a day, but his institutions are open only 8am to 5pm. Yes, according to the law a scientist may combine his research activities with teaching work, but his second salary may not exceed 50% of his basic salary size”, said Ilie Donica.

 

In his belief, the authorities must react to all this, “and Gheorghe Duca must resign from the Academy and return the money to the State Budget”.