The former chief of the Chisinau-based Penitentiary No. 13, who was discharged on November 11, 2016, was arrested by offices of the National Anticorruption Center on corruption-related charges, IPN reports.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Igor Juvala is suspected of abuse of power, namely that he allowed some of the detainees to use mobile phones and to communicate between them.
As a result of a search at the cell where businessman Veaceslav Platon is held, there were found two mobile phones. Another reason for Juvala’s arrest was the statement of a woman detainee, who said that the penitentiary head offered to ensure telephone conversations for her with Veaceslav Platon and Vitalie Burlacu, who were wanted in that period.
The press reported earlier that a person held at Penitentiary No. 13 managed to escape through the checkpoint at the start of November. The prisoner was helped to escape by a lawyer, who gave him his clothes. After the detainee held on remand left the prison, the lawyer also went away. No discrediting proofs were found at the office and home of Igor Juvala during searches.
Igor Pantea, ex-police officer who was accused of use of torture in the April 7, 2009 case, will hold the post of head of Penitentiary No. 13 on an interim basis.
