Searches were performed at the company “Moldovatransgaz” in the morning of February 26. Prosecutor Vitalie Busuioc said that searches are being carried out at 25 addresses in Chisinau, including at the home of a member of the Administration Board of “Moldovagaz”. The measures aimed at 13 persons, including representatives of the two companies, represent a continuation of the searches performed at “Moldovagaz” last October and November, IPN reports.

Vitalie Busuioc said it was established that persons from the administration of “Moldovagaz” and “Moldovatransgaz” in 2011-2015 employed an illegal scheme with the involvement of a number of phantom firms. These had simulated a number of tender contests and presented false documents for providing services and purchasing a number of goods. As a result of these transactions and of tax evasion, damage of about 10 million lei was caused to the state budget.

It was preliminarily determined that the suspects earned about 50 million lei by appropriation. According to the prosecutor, this sum was included in the tariff paid by end-users by applying the tariff calculation methodology.

A number of criminal cases were started over this case, including for money laundering and tax evasion. The suspects face 2 to 15 years in jail.

Last autumn, the police carried out searches at the head offices of SA “Moldovagaz” and “Chisinau-gaz” SRL and, respectively, at the homes of decision makers of the companies, including “Moldovagaz” president Alexandru Gusev.