The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office on December 13 carried out searches in the office of a representative of the Lending Committee of the state-run jewelry factory “Uzina de Bijuterii Giuvaier”, who is an employee of the Ministry of Economy. The operation was performed within a criminal case started in November over abuse of power that resulted in damage to the public interests, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Prosecutor General’s Office says that without reason, the liquidator of IS “Uzina de Bijuterii Giuvaier”, which is in the process of insolvency, auctioned off property managed by the Ministry of Economy.

The liquidator was placed under arrest for 30 days. Another three persons were summoned by prosecutors to be questioned as suspects.

The abuse of power that results in serious damage carries a fine of 1 350 to 2 350 conventional units (a c.u. is equal to 50 lei) or a jail term of two to five years, in both of the cases with ban on holding particular posts or performing particular activities for a period of five to ten years.