The minister of youth and sport who held office in February – July 2015 is investigated in the €200,000 bribe case, being suspected of passive corruption. The case also involves the former director of the Sports Center for Training National Squads, who was arrested several days ago on suspicion that he took €200,000 bribe for arranging a civil society contract by which a public lot was to be signed over to a business entity, IPN reports.

The National Anticorruption Center said the former director of the Sports Center for Training National Squads acted in collusion with the ex-minster of youth and sport and divided the money. In fact, the money was asked by the former head of the Center from the director of a limited liability company based in Chisinau for leasing out to this a publicly owned lot located on Decebal St that belonged to the Sports Center for Training National Squads and the Ministry of Sport. Later, the lot was to be transferred under private ownership. To prepare the necessary documents, the Center’s head asked for €200,000 and he received this money from the denouncer right in his office. Even if the law bans the sale of publicly owned lots, the functionary agreed to sign this contract and to help the company come into possession of the lot. The offense was committed in 2015.

In February-June 2015, the post of minister of youth and sport was held by Sergey Afanasenco, former Moldovan Paralympic athlete.