Two employees of the Chisinau General Directorate of Medical and Social Assistance, including the subdivision head, have been arrested for 72 hours following searches on Thursday.

According to the National Anti-corruption Center, staff at the Temporary Placement Center for Refugees (CTPR), systematically stole food and non-food products –including large and small household appliances, furniture items, bed linen and so on – in significant amounts. The goods were intended for Ukrainian refugees and were bought with foreign assistance funds.

On Thursday, 24 searches were carried out at several addresses, including the CTPR building, garages, warehouses and outbuildings. The actions also targeted employees of the Medical and Social Assistance Directorate.

The searches revealed large stashes of food products, hygiene products, household appliances, such as microwave ovens, electric stoves, vacuum cleaners, as well as sleeping bags, tableware and other items.

Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban, however, denounced the actions as “persecution and harassment” of fellow municipal employees. “Masked officers came today to the head of the health department, Boris Gîlca, and to other employees, because also today the Chisinau City Hall is organizing the biggest Social Forum and the government doesn’t like it, because many guests are coming from abroad”, claims the mayor. He said that a recent audit at the Temporary Placement Center for Refugees found no violations.