RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.76

COUNTRY REPORT
Oxana Bologan*

I. CURRENT SITUATION OF CORRUPTION
Corruption continues to alter the national values and to threaten the political, economic and social
stability of the Republic of Moldova. Our society, regretfully, hasn’t avoided corruption and its dangerous
effects. At the moment, this social vice is one of the main problems that transition countries have toconfront, inclusive of the Republic of Moldova. Its spreading is facilitated by public tolerance, poverty, an
insufficient mechanism of assuring of the supremacy of the law, etc. People discuss corruption at great
length, but, still, not enough, because the high level of it within the country underlines the necessity of theimplementation of more efficient countermeasures.
When we speak about corruption, we speak about the definition, the causes, its impact, consequences,methods of studying the problem, prognosis, prevention and combating it. No country can say that it isn’t
affected by corruption. As a result, this vice becomes a transnational phenomenon, having specificcharacteristics for each country. It is obvious that if corruption has a multi-dimensional, complex and multistructural character, it needs to be combated, as well, by complex means.
The Moldavan legislation defines corruption as an anti-social phenomenon, being represented by anillegal agreement between two parties, one of them proposing or promising illegal privileges or benefits, andthe other party, being involved in the public service, consenting or accepting them for carrying out or notcarrying out some official duties; meeting the elements of an offence provisioned under the criminal law of
the Republic of Moldova.
The Republic of Moldova has taken serious steps towards the reduction of corruption, and the results arevery promising.
It is well known that in order to assure the quality of an efficient anti-corruption process and good
governance, the State needs a complex of relevant attributes, inclusive of:••••

A developed legal framework adjusted to international standards;
An adequate institutional framework;
A co-operative and pro-active civil society;
Efficient international co-operation.

At the moment, Moldova has them all, as well national anti-corruption policies. But I think that this is notenough. We still need a more efficient implementation of the anti-corruption programmes and the establishmentof some new advanced practices.
Control, prevention and combating of corruption are priority elements of various programmes based on
certain engagements assumed before the international community (the Republic of Moldova – European
Union Action Plan, the Millennium Challenges, etc.). The unconditional political obligation to fight against
corruption is also denoted by the implementation in the Republic of Moldova of the National Strategy for thePrevention and Combating of Corruption, approved by the Decision of Parliament no. 421-XV dated 16
December 2004.

* Lieutenant, Superior Inspector of the Anti-corruption Programs and European Integration Section, General Directorate forAnalytics, Prognosis and Prevention, Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption, Republic of Moldova.

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The first results of these activities showed up at the end of 2005; they were evaluated in public
discussions during the National Conference organized on 9 December 2005 with the theme “Progress andPerspectives in Combating Corruption”. The complexity and the growing magnitude of corruption places
this problem on the top of all serious problems of the Republic of Moldova.
The dynamics of the Corruption Perception Index
in the Republic of Moldova during 2002-2006
3,5
Value, units

A. Moldova Performance Diagnostic
The year 2005 may be considered a revolutionary
stage in the fight against corruption and it continued
in 2006 as well. This fact is confirmed by the increasein efficiency in combating this malicious phenomenon
and by the results achieved in the Corruption
Perception Index.
This index, published annually by Transparency
International (TI), denotes modest progress in thefield of prevention and combating of corruption in
the country owing to the involvement of public
institutions, civil society and the private sector in
the fight against corruption.

3,2
2

3

2,9

2,5
2

2,4

2,3

2003

2004

2,1

1,5
1
0,5
0
2002

2005

2006

Year

Thus, in 2006, according to the data of TI, the Republic of Moldova was placed 81 of the 163 countries
covered by the listing, the corruption perception index for the country being equal to 3.2. For comparison, in2005 Moldova was placed 95 out of 159 countries, its index being at the level of 2.9. This fact to aconsiderable extent denotes both the political will of the government and the efforts of civil society in thefield of prevention and combating of corruption in the country.
One of the most important actions that facilitated the fight against corruption was the continuation ofefficient implementation of the National Strategy for Prevention and Combating of Corruption in the
Republic of Moldova (hereinafter referred to as NSPCC), approved by the Decision of Parliament no. 421-XVof 16 December 2004. By the implementation of annual action plans, the achieved results were to a
substantial degree owed to the efficient combination of all available means for the combating of corruption:
combating, prevention and collaboration with civil society.
1. World Bank Institute’s (WBI) Control of Corruption Indicator (Republic of Moldova)1

Year

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

Raw Score

-0.26

-0.36

-0.73

-0.91

-0.96

-0.65

Scale:( -2.5 = worst score,
2.5 = best score)

Moldova’s WBI “Control of Corruption” score fell sharply between 1996 and 2004. Since then, it has
improved little by little.
Bribe Frequency
Percent of firms saying unofficial payments are frequent
40%
30%
2002

20%

2005

10%
0%
MoI

CIS

ECA

2. The EBRD-World Bank Business Environment andEnterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS)2
The graphs display the responses to four survey
questions included in the WBI’s Control of Corruption
Indicator.

(i) Bribe Frequency
Approximately 34% of firms in 2002 reported that
“irregular additional payments” were often necessary to
get things done. That number declined to approximately
20% in 2005.

1 Source: Kaufmann D., A. Kraay, and M. Mastruzzi 2007: Governance Matters VI: Governance Indicators for 1996-2006
2 Source: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTECAREGTOPANTCOR/Resources/BEEPS2005-at-a-glance-Final-Moldova.pdf

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.76(ii) Bribe Tax
We can also observe some improvement in the so-called “bribetax” (percentage of total annual sales that firms pay in unofficial
payments to public officials), which has decreased fromapproximately 2.2% in 2002 to 1.5% in 2005.
Although in absolute terms bribery associated with influencing
the content of legislation is low (3% of firms identified it as aproblem), the trend between 2002 and 2005 is negative.

Bribe Tax
Bribes as a share of annual sales
2.5
2.0
1.5
2002
2005

1.0
0.5
0.0
MoI

Corruption as a Problem Doing Business
Percent of firms indicating corruption as a problem doing business
60%
50%

ECA

CIS

(iii) Corruption as a Problem Doing BusinessIn 2002, 60% of firms identified corruption as asignificant obstacle. That number fell to 50% in
2005.

40%
2002

30%

2005

20%
10%
0%

MoI

CIS

Between 2002 and 2005, we have witnessed anincrease in corruption associated with government
contracts, judicial rulings, and occupational health/safety inspections.

ECA

Between 2002 and 2005, there has been a decline in corruption associated with tax collection andadministration and the customs service. However, in absolute terms, the survey firms reported that bribery
was most frequent in the customs service, tax collection and administration, and business licensing.
Regulatory uncertainty is exceptionally high in Moldova. Almost 70% of firms in Moldova report that
uncertainty about regulatory policies makes it difficult to do business. High levels of regulatory discretion
create ample opportunities for petty corruption. Between 2002 and 2005, we witnessed an increase in thenumber of firms reporting that judicial assessments are unaffordable, slow, unfair, and corrupt. In 2002,
roughly 30% of firms reported that the judiciary was a significant obstacle to “doing business” in Moldova.
By 2005, that number rose to 50% of high levels of corruption in the municipal police.
Unofficial Payments in Sectors-Over Time
Percentage of firms saying bribery is frequent

Unofficial Payments in Sectors-Across Countries
Percentage of firms saying bribery is frequent

To obtain government contracts

To obtain government contracts

To obtain business licences and permits

To obtain business licences and permits

To influence the content of newlegislation rules decrees etc.

To influence the content of newlegislation rules decrees etc.

To get connected to and maintain public
services (electricity and telephone)

To get connected to and maintain public
services (electricity and telephone)

To deal with taxes and tax collection

To deal with taxes and tax collection

To deal with occupational health andsafety inspections

To deal with occupational health andsafety inspections

To deal with fire and building inspections

To deal with fire and building inspections

To deal with environmental inspections

To deal with environmental inspections

To deal with customs/imports

To deal with customs/imports

To deal with courts

MoI – 2005

MoI – 2002
MoI – 2005162

To deal with courts

CIS – 2005
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

ECA – 2005

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

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3. Nations in Transit: Corruption3

Year

1999

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Score

6.00

6.00

6.25

6.25

6.25

6.25

6.00

7 = worst, 1 = best

4. Key Points
The introduction of the National Anti-corruption Strategy and the corresponding Action Plan in January2005 signalled a very promising year in the fight against corruption. Indeed, all involved public institutions
and agencies, as well as the civil society, got off to a very active and convincing start in the implementationof the Anti-corruption Action Plan. The main efforts have been geared toward bringing anti-corruption
legislation in line with international norms and practices and toward outlining the competences of each of
the many institutions involved to avoid duplication of activities. Concrete measures have also been
undertaken to limit the spread of corruption among civil servants. Moldovan civil society and internationalorganizations that monitor corruption are unanimous in saying that some progress has been achieved inpreventing and fighting corruption. Despite the fact that certain public services (such as health care,education, the police, and the customs services) suffer from high levels of corruption, studies havedemonstrated that public tolerance toward corruption in Moldova is decreasing. The country’s rating forcorruption improved from 6.25 to 6.00 owing to the encouraging steps undertaken both by the Moldovan
government and by civil society in the fight against corruption, notably through the implementation of the
Action Plan; yet the awaited large-scale effects are still not felt in Moldovan society.
The government advertises contracts through the National Public Procurement Agency. Calls for tenders
are advertised on the Internet. All state acquisitions with public funds are organized through this agency. A
website facilitates public access to tenders and is meant to increase the transparency of the process.
5. Public Perception and Attitudes Towards the Corruption Phenomenon in Moldova, July 20074
The most recent survey carried out in our country showed how frequently Moldovan inhabitants wereasked to pay a bribe when addressing a state employee: a doctor (40%), a teacher (16%), police officer(14%), a professor (11%), and customs officer (10%). Almost half of the respondents declared that they had
been asked to pay bribes during the last year. During the last three months (April, May, June 2007), 33% had
to pay bribes, 30% to make presents and 24% to give different favours. The public perception of thecorruption phenomenon within the customs service and the police force has decreased a little, but both still
remain on the list of the most corrupt institutions.
The results of the 2007 survey show that both corruption and low income are in fourth place among themost important problems that exist in Moldova at the moment.
The multitude of data provided by international bodies proves that corruption is still a serious danger forour country, although some progress has been made.

II. CURRENT PROBLEMS RELATING TO CORRUPTION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICESYSTEM AND THEIR SOLUTIONSThe Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCECC) plays an essential role in theprevention and combating of corruption. It is the main body in the country responsible for the prevention
and combating of corruption, and was created on the basis of the Decision of the Government of the Republicof Moldova no. 158 from 11 February 2002. The Law no. 1104-XV on the Center for Combating Economic
Crimes and Corruption was adopted on 6 June 2002, and entered into force on 27 June 2002. It grounds theorganization and functioning of the institution.

3 http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=47&nit=396&year=2006
4 Source: carried out by IMAS-inc Marketing & Sondaje, financed by MOLICO Project of the Sida, European Commission andCouncil of Europe.

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The legal framework of our country, besides the aforementioned Strategy for the Prevention andCombating of Corruption also includes:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, adopted on 29 July 1994;
Criminal Code, Law no. 985-XV, 18 April 2002;
Criminal Procedure Code, Law no. 122-XV, 14 March 2003;
Administrative Contraventions Code, 29 March 1985;
The Decision of the Government on some measures to prevent corruption and protectionism(no. 615 from 28 June 2005);
Law on Fighting Against Corruption and Protectionism (Law no. 900, 27 June 1996);
Law on Operative Activity of Investigation (Law no. 45-XIII, 12 April 1994);
Law on Public Service (Law no. 443-XIII, 4 May 1995);
Law on the Declaration and Monitoring of the Income and Assets of State Dignitaries, Judges,
Prosecutors, Public Servants and Certain Persons holding Managerial Positions (Law no. 1264-XV,
19 July 2002);
Law on State Protection of Victims, Witnesses and Other Parties in Criminal Proceedings (Law
no. 1458-XIII, 28 January 1998);
Law on the Procurement of Goods, Works and Services for Public Needs (Law no. 1166-XIII, 30
April 1997);
Law on the prevention and control of money laundering and terrorism financing (Law no. 1166-XIII
form 30 April 1997).

Corruption, already considered a transnational phenomenon, has its roots in the lowest levels of power.
Growing in manifestations, it wins more and more territory by attacking public institutions and even law
enforcement bodies.
The opportunities for corruption are many and State bodies continue to develop new anti-corruption
policies. In the view of prevention and combating of corruption within the public sector, the Decision of the
Parliament no. 421-XV of 16 December 2004 was adopted. It is provided that:•••All central public administration authorities must provision in their activity programmes concrete
activities to prevent corruption and protectionism;
The deputy minister (or deputy director) has responsibility for corruption and protectionism
prevention within the institution;
The aforementioned deputy minister or (or deputy director) will organize:•••

The internal control of compliance by employees with the provisions of the legislation, in viewof prevention of corruption cases and monitoring of the implementation of institutional
measures for the prevention of corruption and protectionism;
The receiving of information from different sources (audience, anonymous letters, the hotline,
e-mail etc.) about corruption offences by the employees of the respective public institutions, its
examination and undertaking of the necessary measures and presenting to the competent law
enforcement bodies the mentioned documentation (or information);
The presentation to the Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (to theSecretariat of the Monitoring Group of the implementation of the National Anti-corruption
Strategy) once in a term of informative notes on the undertaken measures in the respective
field, inclusive of the activities taken in common with other authorities, as well as some
proposals for the amelioration of the existing situation.

A. Problems and Solutions at the Investigation and Prosecution Levels
1. Supervision of Investigation and Prosecution Officers
Solution: The investigation process begins with a complaint from a citizen, or from an article in a newspaper
etc. The citizens’ complaints are examined according to the law on petitioning by which a complaint must be
examined in 15 days, up to a maximum of 30 days. If a petition is not signed, it is examined by the institution
only in the case of existence of any threats to the security of the State or public order. In order to improvesupervision of officers and civil servants, all public institutions are obliged to have security departments
responsible for internal supervision (auditing and management). When these do not exist, the human164THE TENTH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO CORRUPTIONPARTICIPANTS’ PAPERS

resources departments exercise this function. In addition, there is a deputy minister in each ministry
responsible for measures to combat corruption and nepotism.5
As well, complaints on the activity of public employees can be made on the hotline of the institutions or if
it refers to the employees of the Center, citizens can complain at the General Prosecution Office which
supervises compliance with the law of the law enforcement bodies.
2. Lack of Harmonization with International Standards
In line with attained positive achievements some difficulties were also encountered. So, regardless of thefact that the Republic of Moldova has signed the Civil and Criminal Conventions against Corruption, ratified
by the Laws no. 428 of 30 October 2003 and no. 542 of 19 December 2003, the national legislation still
misses multiple important amendments that are urgently required for its adjustment to the provisions of therespective conventions. Thus, the problem may be characterized by a slow process of harmonization ofnational legislation on corruption compared to the international legislative developments in this field.
Solution:• Adjustment and priority implementation of international anti-corruption norms;• Acceleration of adoption of draft laws elaborated in compliance with the Action Plan of
Implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for the years 2005 and 2006;• Intensification of efforts aimed at efficient implementation of normative regulations on corruption inpractice;• Elaboration of efficient mechanisms of implementation and use of anti-corruption legal frameworks.
3. Complexity and Uncertainty of Law
The abundance of legislation has made the law very complex and, indeed, uncertain. Inter-ministerial coordination is inadequate. The recent amendment to Article 106 of the Criminal Code shows, however, thatthe legislature has become more aware of the importance not only of securing convictions but also of
detecting, seizing and confiscating the proceeds of criminal offences, including the confiscation of assets of
their equivalent value. (Conclusions of the GRECO Second Evaluation Round).
Solution:• Review of existent legislation by the specialized bodies and by the subdivision of the CCECC thatgives anti-corruption expertise to the normative acts (a relatively new responsibility of the CCECC);• Capacity consolidation of the law enforcement authorities in the assurance of quick reaction andefficiency in the investigation and examination of corruption-related criminal cases and efficient cooperation with other responsible bodies.
4. Difficulty of Investigation of the Corruption Phenomenon among Top-Ranking Officials
Solution:• Intensification of the activity of law enforcement authorities in the detection and documentation ofcorruption schemes among top-ranking public officials;• Raising the efficiency of mechanisms of information about corruption acts and implementation of
Law no. 1458-XIII dated 28 January 1998 regarding State protection of victims, witnesses and otherpersons providing assistance in the process of criminal investigation.
5. Civil Monitoring of the Activity of Law Enforcement Bodies
Solution: The Republic of Moldova, with the help of international bodies, is in the process of setting up a
Civil Council that will supervise the activity of the CCECC and will represent civil society.
6. Interim Measures
The provisions on interim measures are not entirely satisfactory and are sometimes contradictory.

5 Following an examination of the measures to implement the National Anticorruption Strategy, the government decided on 11

July 2006 to strengthen internal supervision of the activities of public officials. On 6 September 2006 the Strategy for Internal
Control and Audit was adopted.

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Solution: To revise and harmonize the existing legislation on confiscation and interim measures so that the
instrumentalities of corruption and other related offences, as well as the proceeds and their equivalent value,
can be confiscated.
7. Disposal of Frozen Assets
If need be, the public authorities, such as the Ministry of the Interior, the CCEEC or the Public
Prosecutor’s Office, should be able to use or dispose of seized or frozen assets and participate in the sharingof confiscated assets, which is not the case at the moment.
Solution: It should be envisaged that a special body entrusted with managing seized or frozen assets will beestablished and that the rules on the use and distribution of such assets should be changed.
8. Few Disclosures
Very few money laundering cases have been disclosed.
Solution: To make every effort to ensure that the links between organized crime and money laundering aretaken into account in all aspects of the fight against corruption, especially by making it easier to identify theexistence of such links and by strengthening the contribution of the anti-money laundering arrangements tofight against corruption, and by ensuring that institutions and professions required to declare theirsuspicions receive instructions and training to assist in the detection and reporting of acts of corruption.
In 2004, Moldova adopted a National Strategy for the Prevention and Elimination of Corruption and an
Action Plan.6 The Strategy is led by the Council for the Co-ordination of the Fight against Crime and chairedby the Head of State. A monitoring group made up of deputy ministers and deputy directors of administrative
authorities was set up in February 2005 to monitor implementation of the Strategy and the Action Plan. The
secretariat of this group is provided by the CCEEC. These bodies assess the effectiveness of anti-corruption
measures by regularly analysing the information provided by people with specific responsibility forpreventing corruption and nepotism (deputy ministers or deputy directors).

B. Problems and Solutions at the Trial Level
1. Sentencing
The analysis of sentences often demonstrates that the punishments determined by the courts are notproportional to the gravity of committed crimes and to the size of inflicted damages.
Solution: Review of legislation in order to establish more concrete punishments. Example: to avoid inlegislation expressions like: “from two to five years of imprisonment” as it gives opportunities forcorruption.
2. Delays in Disposing Cases
Another problem consists of the delayed examination of corruption-related criminal dossiers by the
courts, leading to the reduction of the efficiency of the criminal law and of the efforts of the criminal pursuitorgans for the combating of corruption and related crimes.
Solution: Intensification of the activity of the courts, and the establishment of specific regulations that would
better organize the activity of the courts.
3. Restricted Use of Special Investigative Techniques
The Code of Criminal Procedure only authorizes the use of special investigative techniques in corruption
cases with aggravating circumstances. They are accordingly not available in ordinary corruption cases which
are punishable by a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, in cases involving trading in influence or

6 This strategy comprises three main focal points: 1) the concept, causes and consequences of corruption in Moldova; 2)

measures for preventing and eliminating corruption, especially improvements to the legislative framework and its actual
application, prevention of corruption in public institutions and political life, and closer co-operation between public institutions
and civil society; and 3) the machinery for implementing the Strategy.

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accounting offences, or for identifying the proceeds of such offences. Such a state of affairs can only be
prejudicial to the quality of the proceedings and the trial.
Solution: To bring the legislation on special investigative techniques in line with the provisions of the
Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS no. 173).
4. Public Awareness of Court Sessions and Decisions
Solution: To make video recordings of the courts’ sessions.
5. Investigation of Judges
Investigation of corruption cases among judges is considered very difficult due to the fact that in order tobegin criminal proceedings it is necessary to ask the approval of the Supreme Council of Magistrates whichmeets once a month.
Solution: To establish new regulations that would make investigation and prosecution easier in regard tojudges.

III. GENERAL MEASURES TO PREVENT CORRUPTION
The objective reality has already proved the fact that corruption can not be stopped only by criminal andrestrictive methods. The prevention of corruption is an extremely important aspect that may stop the
spreading of this social drawback, if properly employed; in other words, if the preventive measures arefocused not on the exterior manifestations of corruption but on the generating factors. So, preventive
activity is determined not only by the increase in public concern at the growing number of corruption crimes
but also by the limited effect of criminal and suppressive measures of combating corruption.
The CCECC uses the following instruments in the view of diagnosing corruption acts:• Assessment of corruption risk within institutions;• Advice of experts on the anti-corruption legislation;• Public opinion polls;• Criminal analysis and prognosis.
Anti-corruption education is also among the most important preventive activities. It is carried out
systematically by the Center’s employees in co-operation with civil society.
The recent amendments of the legislation have directed the CCECC’s corruption prevention activity
towards providing anti-corruption expertise to the national legislature and assessment of corruption risk
within central and local public institutions.
Thus, at the end of 2006, the CCECC, in common with the NGO “Centre for Analysis and Prevention of
Corruption (CAPC)”, developed the Methodology and the Guide for giving anti-corruption expertise tolegislative acts. The European experts (Jean Pierre Bueb and Quentin Reed) endorsed these acts,
expressing their great appreciation for the initiative and the quality of the documents. They noted that
Moldova was an example, from this perspective, for the countries of the European Union, as well as for themembers of the Council of Europe. The correct implementation of the methodology in its two stages of thelegislative process (by CCECC at the elaboration stage and by CAPC before the adoption by Parliament in its
second hearing) will substantially contribute to the development of a coherent, simple and understandable
legal framework. Moreover, this instrument will increase the capacity of the CCECC and the nongovernmental sector to disclose the vulnerabilities to corruption and to the development of preventive
measures by identifying the omissions, repetitions and ambiguity of the provisions of the legislation, as wellas the possible corruption risks at the implementation level.

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IV. INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN CORRUPTION CASESInternational co-operation is a very important component of the process of prevention and combating of
the corruption phenomenon.
International legal frameworks to which Moldova is a party include:• The UN Convention against Corruption, signed 27 September 2004, ratified by Law no. 158-XVI, 6
July 2007;• The Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, ratified on 30 October 2003 by the Law no. 428-XV. In
concordance with the Convention, the Criminal Code in force delimits corruption in public andprivate areas and defines notions of passive and active corruption;• The Civil Law Convention on Corruption, ratified by Law no. 542-XV, of 19 December 2003;• The Additional Protocol to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, ratified by Law no. 157 of 6
July 2007;• The Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceedsof Crime and the Financing of Terrorism; ratification act: Law no. 914-XV, 15 March 2002.
The participation of the Republic of Moldova in the Anti-Corruption Initiative of the Stability Pact forSouth-Eastern Europe (SPAI) should also be mentioned. Taking into consideration the objectives andrecommendations of SPAI, the activities aimed at suppression of corruption at the regional level fit
harmoniously into the process of European integration, constituting a considerable part of it.
A very important role in the monitoring of the use of international legal instruments is played by theGroup of States Against Corruption (GRECO). In 2006 the second anti-corruption evaluation cycle of the
Republic of Moldova was carried out. Based on the Report for the Republic of Moldova 15 recommendations
that must be implemented not later than the 31 May 2008 were elaborated and presented.
The CCECC became a member of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, in
October 2006, in Beijing, China, during the First Annual Conference and General Assembly. It has the scopeof facilitation and of efficient implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption.

V. CENTER FOR COMBATING ECONOMIC CRIMES AND CORRUPTION
AND ITS INVESTIGATIVE AND PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY
With the adoption of the Law on creation of the Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption
in Moldova an institution provided with a complex system of authority in detection of economic crimes,
beginning with collection and documentation of information, performance of controls, initiation of criminal
investigations, and criminal prosecution, and ending with presentation of the dossiers to the prosecution
authorities for further examination by the judiciary, was created.
The activity of this authority consists of the prevention, detection, investigation, and removal of
economic, financial and tax violations; combating corruption and protectionism; combating the legalization ofproperty and laundering of illegally obtained money; ensuring the anti-corruption expertise of legal drafts
and governmental normative acts and their compliance with State policy in the field of prevention andcombating of corruption.
The Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption was created on the basis of the Decision of
the Government of the Republic of Moldova no. 158 of 11 February, 2002.
The strategic orientation of the CCECC consists of the concentration of the efforts against corruption
with the scope of assuring the effective functioning of the rule of law and democracy, as well as economic andsocial development of the State.

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General Director

General direction foranalytics, prognosis
and prevention

General division forprevention and analytics

General direction forinvestigations
Mass-media, international
cooperation and protocol section
General division for criminal
prosecution

General anti-corruption
division

General division for audit
Legislation and anticorruption expertise division

Service for the prevention andcontrol of money laundering

General division for
combating economic crimes

Division for operative support
Division for strategic policies
and European integration

Judicial service

Service for the protection
and tracing out of persons

Human resources division
General management
divisionInternal security division

Balti Territorial division

Book keeping division
Cahul Territorial division
Logistics division

A. The Tasks of the Center(i) Preventing, disclosing, investigation and suppression of financial-economic and tax offences;(ii) Counteraction of corruption and protectionism;(iii) Counteraction of legalization of material assets and laundering of illegally gained money;(iv) Carrying out of anti-corruption examination of draft legal acts and draft normative acts of theGovernment in the view of establishing conformity with State policy on prevention and counteractionof corruption.
The tasks of the Center are exhaustive and can not be amended unless by virtue of the law itself.

B. Counter Activity• Effectuation of the operative investigative activity and criminal prosecution of corruption offences,money laundering and economic and financial crimes;• Investigation of corruption and economic and financial contraventions and sanctioning the perpetrators;• Disclosure of some fiscal contraventions and offences and sanctioning the culprits.
The General Anti-corruption Division’s responsibilities include the multilateral operative and complex
investigations aimed at combating corruption and protectionism; removal of causes and favouring conditions;determination of priority activities in order to detect, eradicate and anticipate acts of corruption andprotectionism depending on the methods and tools used by the infringers. The service duties of this Divisionalso include operative coverage of the major branches of the national economy, public and law enforcement
authorities concerning documentation of illicit activity of corrupted public officers, and the revealing of
methods and schemes of corruption.
The General Division for Combating Economic Crimes was established within the Center in the year
2004. The basic tasks of the division include: detection, eradication, combating and prevention of economic
corruption crimes that represent a threat to the economic security of the State, public property and theinterest of the consumer. In order to assure a successful performance of functional duties, the Division’s
activity includes the following specific fields:

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•
•
•
•
•
•

combating of infringements related to tobacco products, bakeries, the consumption market,
contraband and illicit traffic of goods;
combating of infringements related to the circulation of ethylic alcohol and its derivative products;
combating of infringements in medical and pharmaceutical institutions, in the institutions ofeducation, in state budget institutions, in the sphere of precious metals and delinquent firms;
combating of infringements in the field of transportation, informational technologies and advertising,construction and ecology;
combating of infringements related to the power sector and energetic resources; andcombating of infringements on the stock market, in the insurance companies, in industry, in the
sector of ferrous metals and humanitarian aid.

C. The General Division for Criminal Prosecution
The results of the law enforcement authorities to a significant degree depend on the results of theGeneral Division for Criminal Prosecution, which is one of the main subdivisions of the Center. The majortasks of the Division comprise detection, documentation and investigation of corruption-related crimes, aswell as qualitative performance of criminal prosecution of the cases held by the Center. After the adoption of
the Law on the Status of Criminal Prosecution Officers the role of the General Division for Criminal
Prosecution has significantly increased.
VI. CONCLUSION
During the last two years of activity, the CCECC proved its capacity of development of its own anticorruption policies.
The multitude of actions implemented by the Moldavian authorities aimed at combating corruption has
been evaluated by the GRECO experts during the Second Evaluation Cycle for Moldova. It was mentionedthat Moldova has made a considerable improvement in reforms and numerous laws were adopted in all fieldsof activities. Many things are still waiting to be done.
The efficient implementation of Anti-Corruption Plans will improve the achievements of the country incombating corruption and will serve as a real premise for social and economic development and will assure
the acceptance of the Republic of Moldova into the family of countries with strong democratic values.

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