Law enforcement officers on Tuesday carried out searches at the Balti office of a political party and the homes of individuals affiliated to the party in a criminal case concerning electoral corruption and illegal financing of political parties, IPN reports.

The National Anticorruption Center said that the persons are suspected of corrupting voters for the October 20 referendum and election. Voters’ personal data were sent to third parties and financial institutions outside the Republic of Moldova in order to obtain illicit remuneration for exercising the right to vote.

Last week, 18 civil servants, including the mayor and deputy mayor of Orhei, the chief architect, ascertaining agents and a number of district councilors, were searched in a criminal case of passive corruption and violation of the management of financial means of political parties or electoral funds. One person was remanded in custody, while another one was placed under house arrest.