Man suspected of Romanian passports swindle

Officers of the Centre for countering trafficking in persons arrested a man, suspected of Romanian passports swindle. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs press centre, the man, aged 47, holding the citizenships of Moldova and Romania, has been found by policemen after he published an announcement in the “Makler” newspaper. Its author offered his services to persons seeking a Romanian citizenship. He was promising to get the citizenship in a 3-month term for the sum of EUR 1,000, if the documents were submitted until January 20 or for EUR 3,000 if the documents were submitted after this date. When he was arrested, the man had already received EUR 2,000 from 4 persons, each of the victims offering a EUR 500 in advance. Criminal proceedings have been initiated on this case, under the art. 195, paragraph 2 of the Penal Code, for appropriation in large and extremely large amounts, which stipulates a punishment of up to 5 years in jail.