The dean of the Faculty of Law of the State University of Moldova (USM) and a doctorate coordinator of the same institution were escorted to the National Anticorruption Center for being questioned in a criminal case started over acts of corruption. The dean would have received money from the coordinator for helping two students to easier get a “pass” for their doctoral theses, IPN reports.

According to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, the doctor habilitate of law and doctorate coordinator, who is also a lawyer and a member of the public doctoral theses evaluation commission of the USM, this August offered the dean of the Faculty of Law sums of money for facilitating the passing of the doctoral theses by two students studying law and in his own interests as he was to be assessed satisfactorily by the Scientific Council and remunerated for high-quality work as a doctorate coordinator.

As a result of searches carried out at the dean’s office and at the office and home of the doctorate coordinator on October 9, there were seized equipment, memory cards and doctoral theses.

USM rector Gheorghe Ciocanu has told IPN that this is a very unexpected situation and it is worrisome that the scientific component, which is the doctoral studies, is discredited. “This situation is terrible for me as I couldn’t have even imagined that something could happen there… There are mature people at the doctoral stage.... If the doctoral studies are profaned too, the higher education in the Republic of Moldova is seriously compromised,” he stated.

The rector said the institution will take no action in relation to the two employees yet. “We should see the proofs first. I will wait for the verdict,” noted Gheorghe Ciocanu.