Three persons were arrested on suspicion that they acted as intermediaries in a scheme of corruption for issuing fake COVID-19 vaccine cerrtirficates. According to the police, the sums asked and received for a fake certificate varied between 4,000 and 6,000 lei, IPN reports.

The National Anticorruption Center said the persons were arrested within a criminal case started over influence peddling that consists of ten episodes. The three intermediaries, together with employees of public health facilities, organized the issuing of tens of COVID-19 certificates without the persons being immunized and by introducing the data in the vaccine certificates register.

Anticorruption officers carried out searches at three medical institutions, where documents were seized, and at the homes of suspects, where vaccine certificates in the original, stamped identity cards in the original and money whose origin is unclear were found and seized.

More persons, including health workers, are under scrutiny. The three intermediaries will be remanded in custody. They are investigated for influence peddling and risk up to seven years in jail or a maximum fine of 200,000 lei.