Only one of the people detained after the searches carried out on Friday at the Orhei mayor’s office was remanded in custody for a period of 30 days. The other three suspects were placed under house arrest for a similar period, in accordance with a court decision, IPN reports.

The National Anticorruption Center said that the searches and arrests formed part of a case of passive corruption and illegal financing of a political party.

According to the investigators, a number of functionaries of the Orhei mayor’s office systematically received undue payments from various people holding public posts, as well as from members of an organized criminal group, who acted in the interests of a political party.

The searches covered a total of 18 civil servants, including the mayor and deputy mayor of Orhei, the chief architect, ascertaining agents and a number of district councilors.