The Moldovan Parliament passed the Law on preventing and combating corruption in the final reading on Friday, April 25, Info-Prim Neo reports. The law envisages the public functionaries using their status contrary to society’s general interests. If found guilty of corruption acts, the public functionaries, natural and legal entities will be punished in accordance with the Penal Code. The law defines corruption as “any illegal usage, by a person with public dignity, of his/her function to gain material benefits or an undue advantage for oneself or for another person contrary to the legitimate interests of society and of the statute, or the illegal granting of material benefits or undue advantages to this person.” The corruption acts established by the law are active corruption, passive corruption, influence peddling, bribe taking, bribe giving and receiving illicit reward. The body invested to prevent and combat corruption or acts of corrupt behavior is the Economic Crimes and Corruption Combating Center. The draft was adopted in first reading on 21 February, this year. Later a brand-new bill was drafted with the assistance of Transparency International-Moldova.