Former minister of transport and road infrastructure Iurie Kirinchuk was sentenced to three years and six months in jail by the Chisinau Appeals Court, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said the ex-minister was convicted of influence peddling and abuse of power and, besides receiving a jail term, he was also banned from holding public posts for a five-year period.

A businessman who was the ex-minister’s accomplice got two years.

The judges rejected yet the prosecutor’s request to confiscate the former minister’s luxury car and the 40,000 lei and €5,500 seized during the search performed at the businessman’s domicile.

The Chisinau Appeals Court’s verdict is implementable, but can be challenged in the Supreme Court of Justice.

Iurie Kirinchuk was arrested on April 27, 207 together with two directors of building companies. These admitted their guilt and signed blame acceptance agreements with the prosecutors. The ordinary court of law gave them non-custodial sentences.