German diplomat in Moldova suspected of corruption

Berlin- Germany said Monday it had suspended one of its diplomats working in the Moldovan capital Chisinau after suspicion that bribes had been received to issue German entry visas, dpa news agency informs. A spokesman in Berlin said the Foreign Ministry had discovered that 70 visas had been issued improperly at the mission in Moldova in the period from November 2005 till September 2006, raising the suspicion that corruption had occurred. An internal disciplinary inquiry has been opened against the suspended official and the case has also been reported to German prosecutors.