SIS is Moldova’s sole authorised phone tapper

The Security & Intelligence Service (SIS) will be the only institution to have the right to tap telephone and telegraph wires and intercept signals in any other way. Parliament passed a relevant bill in first reading on Thursday. Under the bill, the signal to be intercepted will be rerouted to the authorised body that carries out the investigation. Only SIS will be given tapping-related technical assistance. A number of MPs from Opposition doubted the opportunity of these amendments, pointing out that they coincided with the appointment of the ex-presidential advisor Artur Reshetnikov as the new SIS director. Advocating for the amendments, the authors of the bill said that SIS is the only institution which, in virtue of its status, technical capacity and human resources, is able to do the job properly. Besides, the measure would save nearly 50 million taxpayers’ lei. Currently, the legislation enables the following authorities to wiretap: SIS, the Interior Ministry, public prosecutors, the Centre for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption, and the Customs Service.