Ion Garstea said he is the victim of the abuse by Moldovan customs officers who use violent inspection methods. He gave a news conference where he said that one of the customs officers of the border crossing point Leuseni damaged his car and did not pay for the damage, Info-Prim Neo reports. The incident happened last December. “I was told to go thorough the scanner with my car. I tried to find out how often a unit of transport can be scanned as I think this has a harmful effect on me and the passengers. Several weeks ago, my car was scanned. They told me nothing, but customs officer Nacy came afterward with a perforator and made holes in my vehicle,” said Ion Garstea. He also said that the customs officer took out the linings and destroyed the floor and a chair. Afterward, the customs officer told him he may go. “I asked him to issue a document with the results of the scanning and asked who will pay for the damage. He answered that those were my problems,” he stated. Ion Garstea said he discussed with the head of the border crossing point Vitalie Vasilache, who recommended him to find an amicable way to solve the problem with Ilie Nacu. “The customs officer refused to reach an agreement with me. I thus filed an application to the head of the Customs Service Tudor Balitski and asked him to issue the documents concerning the scanning of my car and to explain why they didn’t do it earlier. I want at least apologies as well as damages,” he stated. Ion Garstea is supported by the public association “Reality and Truth”. Veaceslav Balacci, who represents the NGO, said the case of Ion Garstea is not the only one of the kind. “Our investigations show that the barbarous practice of unjustifiably damaging the property of the people who cross Moldova’s border with the EU is widely used by the customs officers. Even if they have special scanners and modern means to perform inspections, they do not use them for different reasons,” he said. Ion Garstea stressed that if he does not receive an answer to his application in 30 days, he will go to court and ask for 12,000 lei damages. The NGO “Reality and Truth” calls upon other persons who were in similar situations to join them in their effort and together look for justice in court.