The Chisinau Prosecutor’s Office started a criminal case over appropriation of funds allocated to the National Bureau of Statistics for taking the population and dwelling census of 2014. According to prosecutors, 1.8 million lei of the costs incurred by the Bureau for taking the census was misused, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Chisinau Prosecutor’s Office says that civil servants of the National Bureau of Statistics in 2013 – 2016 planned and employed an illegal scheme to appropriate money allocated for taking the census. Acting in collusion with executives of a company, employees of the Bureau signed five public procurement contracts to the value of 9.2 million lei with serious deviations from the law. These favored the given company, enabling thus the misappropriation.

As a result of the identified illegalities, prosecutors started a criminal case over appropriation of funds in considerable amounts. This involves both civil servants of the Bureau and executives of the company entrusted to manage the money.

The investigation goes on. The employees of the National Bureau of Statistics involved in this case are also suspected of committing other illegalities in the public sphere.