This year the Moldovan courts delivered the first imprisonment sentences against corrupt public servants, Anticorruption Center director Viorel Chetraru said in an interview with Info-Prim Neo, {published on 26 December}, as part of the “Year 2012 in the life of Moldova and its people” Series. Viorel Chetraru said that some 240 cases of corruption were sent to court this year, and they involved different categories of perpetrators, including high-ranking tax officials and heads of territorial subdivisions. There were also cases of traffic police officers arrested, about 20 lawyers were caught in the act of mediating acts of corruption, and four prosecutors were indicted on corruption charges. “This year we saw 13 imprisonment sentences, unlike previous years, when courts mostly delivered probation sentences or imposed fines”. “The causes and the conditions for the appearance and endurance of corruption are various, we can talk about factors of cultural, economic, social or any other nature. The fact is that we inherited this scourge. However, I think the most important element that favors the growth of corruption is the lack of political will. Political will is able to crate conditions for enhancing the reputation of the public office, for example, by establishing some stiff criteria at employment as well as by offering a decent remuneration for work”, said the Anticorruption Center director. Chetaru went on to add that a firm political will establishes criteria of responsibility and integrity for public functionaries. “The fact is that political will has enough levers to institutionalize mechanisms for fighting corruption, but it's us the people who are directly responsible for their efficiency, by showing a proactive attitude”, said Viorel Chetraru in his interview with Info-Prim Neo.