In over three months of death of couple who got stuck in snowdrifts in Coşcalia, case is at an incipient stage

More than three months have passed since the death of the couple who got trapped in snowdrifts in Coşcalia with their car, but the examination of the criminal case is at an incipient stage. According to the National Anticorruption Center (NAC), which took over the case on January 24, no person was indicted or classed as a suspect in this case.

In an answer to a request made by IPN, the NAC says that on January 10, the criminal investigation body of the Căușeni Police Inspectorate started a criminal investigation into the non-fulfillment and/or improper fulfillment by public persons of their professional duties, resulting from negligent and/or unconscientious attitude towards them, expressed by failure to provide aid, which caused the death of two people.

The criminal case was initiated based on the self-notification report submitted on November 27, 2023 by the representative of the criminal investigation body of the Căușeni Police Inspectorate. On January 24, the criminal case was submitted to the criminal investigation body of the National Anticorruption Center to continue the criminal investigation.

“Given that this criminal case was started based on fact, at the moment there are no persons classed as suspects or accused. At the same time, the examination is at an incipient stage in which criminal investigation measures are taken to establish all the circumstances of the offence and the actions/inaction of each person will be clarified, with subsequent classification and questioning,” the NAC’s response also says.

At the end of November, when there was a heavy snowfall in Moldova, a 63-year-old man and his 64-year-old wife died in their car that got stuck in snowdrifts in Coşcalia village of Căușeni district. The man, while he was still alive, and relatives called the emergency number 112 for several times and asked for help, but emergency response teams reached the car only the next day, after a passerby informed about the death of the two persons. The only official who was dismissed after this case was the director of the Single Emergency National Service 112, Liviu Oboroc.