Weapons for Africa

● Marculesti International Airport sold weapons to offshores involved in arms trafficking in areas of military conflict ● S-8 KOM aircraft and helicopter missiles were to reach Niger through the Ukrainian state-owned company Ukrinmash ● The Ukrainians from S-Profit Ltd have financial claims, amounting to over 4 million lei, to the Moldovan authorities for non-compliance with the contracts signed for S-8 missiles. ● Illegal kept weapons and ammunition which are not in the National Army patrimony, were found on the territory of Marculesti International Airport The Embassy of the Ukraine in Chisinau requests, on March 27, 2018, the right to use the Moldovan

PR during pandemic in Chisinau and millions, allocated in the absence of a tender to a "close" company to the mayor

On April 22, the mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban was taking pictures in the background of several equipment units and announced with great pomp that he had started the renovation works of the pedestrian alley on Mircea cel Batran Blvd. After the mayor left, the equipment that dug a few ditches at the intersection with Petru Zadnipru Str. was withdrawn, and the City Hall subdivisions were to deal with the tenders for the designation of the company in charge with the repair of the alley. "From too much of a hurry", the authorities of Chisinau did not organize a

Trickery tenders

Only in 2017, the state institutions in the Republic of Moldova spent over MDL 74.8 million for unplanned increases in the price of public procurements made. For this reason, about 700 additional agreements on increasing the value of the procurement contracts were signed. In 2015 and 2016, the price increases approved by additional agreements amounted to MDL 222.2 million and MDL 310.3 million, respectively.  According to the experts, there are several reasons why the public authorities accept this.  Sometimes, these increases are justified, in other cases - these are made because of someone’s interest or unwillingness of the contracting

Perished food products with “bio” label in kindergartens in Chisinau: companies, schemes and tenders

Several audio recordings of intercepted phone calls of employees of some kindergartens, officials of the Departments of Education, Youth and Sport of Chisinau and of several businessmen have shocked the public opinion. Intercepted phone calls reveal that small children in kindergarten were supplied with perished food products. Names of the persons involved are kept in secret by investigators who pretend to fear for the safety of the families who supplied the children with perished fish and meat. Center for Investigative Journalism managed to identify some of the businessmen who appear in intercepted phone calls and analyzed the companies that

Grand motorsports complex planned in Orhei, for which there is no money

Orhei authorities have announced two years ago about the construction of a European motorsports complex, in the absence of enough money. Almost two million lei were wasted for designing the complex: 1.2 million lei from the national budget and over 600,000 from the district budget, after which the project stopped, because money was not earmarked for the construction. The Court of Auditors found that the design was done in the absence of a feasibility study and the procurement group rejected the company that proposed the lowest price as the selection criterion was breached. As a result, the National Anticorruption

“Sick” procurements in healthcare field

National Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AMDM) announces a public tender for supply with necessary medicines for hospitals in 2017. As much as about 500 million lei were earmarked for healthcare field. Center for Investigative Journalism showed in an investigation that, in previous years, public money intended for procurement in Health – about 800 million lei - reached the accounts of seven companies. Four of them were included in 2015 in the blacklist of the Public Procurement Agency, after Moldovan medical institutions faced a drug shortage crisis which, according to authorities, was caused by the boycott of these

Modernization with criminal case at Moldova State University. Illegal tender or attempted political revenge?

Moldova State University (USM) and the construction company Lagmar-Impex SRL started a few years ago a large investment for infrastructure development of the educational institution that would end in 2018. Under the project, the company committed to renovating many dormitories for students and a classroom block. Instead, USM ceded 2 plots in the center of the capital. Here, the company raised a huge residential complex which sells apartments, whose prices start from 444 euros/ 1 square meter. A year ago, the "business" came into sight of Anticorruption prosecutors and officers. The police suspected that the public tender for the

Endless tenders for a project worth 8 million lei

Residents in two villages in district Straseni risk losing a project worth eight million lei, money that was earmarked for the construction of an aqueduct. The tender for selecting the company in charge with works was already organized four times and each time it was challenged by several companies. They disagree that they were disqualified for presenting lower prices than the project’s value. In turn, members of the procurement group say that the law does not allow tenderers to radically decrease the amounts indicated by the designers. The process can be delayed because the appeals are examined in the

Schools with debts of millions on the brink of a new school year

On the brink of the new school year, most schools in Criuleni have debts of thousands of dollars and some -even millions; they are at the risk of reaching the court. The debts date back three years ago when the district authorities have approved a project by which schools were forced to replace all doors and windows. The works were made in advance and the debt was supposed to be paid within 3 years. When the term expired, the company claimed the money which was invested, while headmasters said  that they did not have money. The money  for project funding

Unprofitable business of the capital

Lands and nonresidential spaces owned by Chisinau Citi Hall  is a real godsend for different economic units or people close to local public authorities. Some of them rented spaces with a surface of hundreds of square meters at a price of just seven lei per square meter; others privatized entire buildings at the price required for a dorm room. Although the law requires organizing public tenders for leasing and privatization of lands and buildings in the capital, the authorities avoid this procedure. Thus, public property management, especially of non-residential spaces and lands, is the most damaging activity of the

Councilor-landowner and scandal with plots in Colonita

The mandate of councilor made himself landowner in Colonita. Igor Luchian has recently got 3 plots sold based on a decision of the council which he voted. In addition, in that period he was part of the commission for public tenders. Councilors from the opposition request return of the land to the village and accuse Luchian of conflict of interest. Also, the municipality is charged of "selling" the land based on deals, to people who take advantage of changes in the law, whereby the use of agricultural land can be changed by a vote of the local council and

How was the state deprived of 30 million lei

The state paid 10 million lei for tons of equipment that languishes for years in the stock of an economic unit. The equipment was purchased for a treatment plant, which the authorities in Criuleni have been trying to build it for nearly a decade. The fate of the investment is uncertain while a part of the engineering networks installed were damaged. Meanwhile, the district council pays tens of thousands of dollars annually for storing equipment which nobody knows whether it will ever be used.   Works performed by halves The project "Evacuation of waste water from town Criuleni to water treatment

Banned sausages still being served to children in schools and kindergartens

Tons of sausages are still being served to children in schools and kindergartens, despite the discontent of some parents as well as an order of the Ministry of Health which has banned the overfat cold cuts since 2012. The ministry has recently issued another order by which it wishes to indefeasibly take the sausages off the menu in schools and kindergartens since 1st of June.  As only a few days are left until then, it is not known whether all the kindergartens will manage to remove the sausages from the menu. The authorities are not in a hurry to

Incompetence in public procurement costs us millions

The public money comes to be spent meaninglessly because the persons responsible for procurement don’t have the necessary preparation. The mistakes of the persons responsible for public procurement cost us millions. Due to the fact that the authorities have no capacity to conduct trainings, the specialists state they learn how to carry out a tender on the internet, and also from their own mistakes. For many of them, the development of technical specifications is like a formula from applied physics. The investigation has been conducted as a result of a notification on the Corruption Map.  Unaware of what technical specifications look like An error

The Authorities of the Capital City, "Eminent" In Squandering Money for Derelict Schools

At least ten schools of Chișinău municipality have been closed over the past years because of the small number of pupils. Beyond the decision about their closedown, the authorities intended to make savings. However, the reality shows that, in the absence of a clear strategy, the buildings of phantom schools still continue to devour millions of lei from the municipal budget. Experts argue that an estimate of the number of pupils and schools should be done and that planning of the use of empty areas should be done based on the respective figures: either to change their destination, or

Road Repair in Chișinău and the Interests of the Mayor Dorin Chirtoacă

The rehabilitation of Stefan cel Mare Boulevard and of Alecsandri and Negruzzi streets in the capital costs us astronomical sums, while the company which executes the works seems to have some relation with Mayor Dorin Chirtoacă. This project aimed at the repair of nearly seven kilometres of road is worth 11.5 million Euros, the money being borrowed. The municipality would have paid a million and a half Euros less, if no infringements were committed at the tender, as confirmed both by the National Integrity Commission, and by a special inquiry commission of Chişinău Municipal Council. The works are being carried

Works Worth Millions Abandoned on the Construction Site at the Presidency Building

The 7th of April 2009 meant scattered hopes and, in the same time, the depletion of the budget by the urge to repair the buildings of the Parliament and of the Presidency destroyed during the violent protests. While the Parliament building was renovated in the meantime, an abandoned construction site lies opposite, at the Presidency building. Under the pressure of the crisis, the renovation works were stopped back in 2011, 106 million lei being spent before that, a sufficient amount for performing half of the works. The authorities have not allocated any funds to preserve the building, therefore at least

Secret Companies and Deals in Rezina

Three companies managed by the same person are the favourites of the authorities of the district of Rezina in terms of public procurements. Every second contract in the field of repairs and constructions was awarded during the period September 2013 - April 2015 to one of the three companies in which Liviu Jitari figures either as a manager, or as a founder: Litarcom, AVI Borș and Capilla. A predilection which arouses suspicion Based on three contracts concluded with Litarcom LLC, the administration of the district of Rezina allocated 2.46 million lei for the renovation of the rooms rented in the premises

Illegal tenders (II)

In a system full of corruption and bribes, in the past two years, only one mayor was caught in the act and then given suspended sentence. He was charged of having frauded a public tender. Though, some tenders seem more than doubtful and the witnesses of some businessmen and mayors reveal a world where the shadow games and the bribes dictate the rules of the game, rules which are accepted by all sides, otherwise, they are excluded from the deal. Continuation No doubt, company Litarcom SRL can be called one of the champions of tenders in the last four years. It won

How the Local Government of Zîrnești Trifles the Public Money Away

The local government of Zîrnești, district of Cahul has compromised a lot of projects with public funds, worth millions of lei. Over one million was thrown away for road renovation, but apart from potholes, nothing can be seen. The House of Culture was renovated, but the roof leaks as before. In the kindergarten, which is equipped with old furniture, everywhere were placed video surveillance cameras, purchased without any tender. To build an agricultural market, the mayoralty hired a relative of the mayor, and dubious schemes were applied during the execution of certain public works. The string of irregularities is

Illegal tenders (I)

In a system full of corruption and bribes, in the past two years, only one mayor was caught in the act and then given suspended sentence. He was charged of having frauded a public tender. Though, some tenders seem more than doubtful and the witnesses of some businessmen and mayors reveal a world where the shadow games and the bribes dictate the rules of the game, rules which are accepted by all sides, otherwise, they are excluded from the deal. In the past years, many Moldovan villages benefited from profitable investment projects. Either it is about the roads reparation, schools

Who dribbles the law in the file of the National Stadium?

The National Stadium situated in the centre of the capital city, where the most important football matches were played in former times, is derelict for almost ten years. In 2006, the Communist governance decided to renovate the sports arena and, without conducting any tender, the company Basconslux was designated to do the demolition, the costs of the works at that stage being estimated at eight million lei. Nevertheless, this company, that was the winner in a number of public tenders, was not paid, although it performed the works. In 2013, after a long correspondence with the authorities, Basconslux started

A former mayor of Peticeni reaped a bakery at the expense of kindergarten children

A group of inhabitants of the village of Peticeni, district of Călăraşi have been struggling for more than a decade for the return of the canteen’s building back to the kindergarten, as, in their opinion, it was illegally alienated. The transaction was done with the consent of the former mayor, and the building became the property of his wife. The case was reported by the villagers on the Corruption Map of Anticoruptie.md website. The kindergarten (left) and the former food unit, today a bakery (right) Photo: CIJM In January 2004, the local council of the village of Peticeni, district of Călăraşi (the

A Dubious Acquisition: How the Town of Cahul Has Got a Defective Snow Removal Machine

The abundant snow fell in the past weeks has disclosed a problematic public procurement made four years ago by the local government of Cahul. Then, the Communist mayor Petru Burlacu concluded, after a public tender, a contract for the purchase of a truck equipped with an anti-skid material spreader with ”Driving LLC”, owned by the daughter of Paul Anton, the leader of the Communist faction in the Town Council of Cahul. The truck, 9 years old, became a pest for sanitation officials. It has never worked properly – it was not in a good technical condition when it was purchased,

The Companies of Oleg Sârbu, Member of Parliament – Favourite Suppliers to State Institutions

Two out of the nine companies owned by the Democrat MP Oleg Sârbu are constant suppliers of food and fuel to three psycho-neurological boarding houses from the northern part of the country, all of which are under the subordination of the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family. Throughout the period 2013-2015, Valentina Buliga, party colleague of Oleg Sârbu, was at the head of this ministry. The former minister says she has not influenced anyhow the tenders. The fact is that the respective companies, alongside with a third one, specialized in fuel sale, supplied to State institutions goods and

Tenders for the family of the Director of the Public Procurement Agency

The company owned by the Director of the Public Procurement Agency won in the last 2 years tenders’ worth 35 million lei, managed by the state institution. Most of lucrative tenders won by this company have been challenged by competitors, but in most cases, the Agency’s representatives have dismissed the claims of economic units. Business partners and the family of the Head of Public Procurement Agency have been successful at tenders in recent years, winning contracts worth tens of millions of lei. The building where is located Public Procurement Agency. Photo: CIJM Viorel Mosneaga was appointed deputy director at the Public Procurement

A Project for the Dump of Bubuieci Compromised by the Interests

The amount of 4 million lei, allocated 3 years ago by the National Ecological Fund (NEF) to the local government of Bubuieci for the purchase of two mobile stations for construction waste processing, has become a matter of prosecutorial investigation. The General Prosecutor’s Office (GP) has initiated a penal case for embezzlement, by virtue of art. 191 of the Penal Code, and the prosecution is now underway. The GP’s Office informed us about it in the response to an inquiry. In fact, nobody knows who exactly is prosecuted – the former members of NEF Board of Directors who disbursed

Millions of the City Hall “buried” in 41 yards in Chisinau

The arrangement of some yards in Chisinau and  creation of some thousands parking spaces, which the mayor Dorin Chirtoaca praised in the summing up for 2015, cost 53,3 million lei, an unjustified sum, say experts. Moreover, the purchasing agreement of these works was concluded with some procedural violations. The agreement signed between the City Hall and the company that performed the works, Lucet-comert is unclear. The document does not stipulate the exact number of yards and parking spaces to be arranged and does not show the addresses where the works are performed. Though this company has not fully completed its

Schools in Taraclia, obliged to allocate one million lei for equipment they don’t need

Taraclia Rayon Council has allocated about one million lei for useless equipment - heat generators for the sports halls of the Rayon gymnasiums and lyceums. At the same time, the school managers say the money had to be spent on works which are more necessary, the councilors state that they have thought about the pupils’ health. The “deal” has been made without resorting to public procurement, being promoted by the former head of Rayon and unanimously voted by the Rayon councilors. The money for the heating sources has been used from the so-called Rayon component for education, a joint school

Vladimir Molojen was acquitted after he enriched his family’s company during his tenure

Vladimir Molojen (69), former Minister of Information Development, concluded public contracts estimated at over two million lei with the company of his family seven years ago. He was acquitted on December 9th, by the Buiucani District Court in the capital, though the anticorruption prosecutor ruled six years in prison. The judgment was delivered by the court president, Dorin Dolghier. The prosecution took a year and a half, and then the trial was in the court for 4 years. Since then, the prosecutor of this case Mihail Ivanov, warned several times that the examination was delayed deliberately. He enriched his family’s