The officer of the National Anticorruption Center who was arrested for influence peddling would have received the €100,000 from the president of the Moldovan Basketball Federation, who was arrested in mid-May. The head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office Viorel Morari told a press briefing that the officer serves as senior inspector at a division of the Center’s central apparatus and has worked in the field for many years, IPN reports.

Viorel Morari said the officer of the Center is suspected of taking the money in February-March this year, after a criminal case was started against the Basketball Federation’s president over swindle. The money was provided for influencing the decision in the criminal case and for setting free the suspect. “The fact that the Federation’s president is still in custody and the main case is being investigated further probably made him denounce the officer,” he stated.

According to Viorel Morari, the prosecutor dealing with this case is now compiling the indictment against the Center’s officer. This case could yet involve more persons. “I’m aware that one employee of the National Anticorruption Center was unable to get such a large sum as the case was not even within his area of competence. That’s why the involvement of other persons in this case is also considered,” he said.

The anticorruption prosecutors do not rule out the possibility that the denouncement of the president of the Basketball Federation is calumnious. If he is found guilty, the employee of the National Anticorruption Center will serve up to seven years in jail.