A surgeon of the Chisinau-based Mother and Child Institute was arrested on passive corruption charges in the morning of April 3. He is suspected of asking US$ 500 from the mother of a seven-year-old child, who was to be operated immediately, IPN has learned from the National Anticorruption Center.

Anticorruption officers and prosecutors carried out searches at the man’s home and seized a part of the money passed on under the guidance of officers of the National Anticorruption Center. The 41-year-old surgeon was placed under arrest for 72 hours.

He faces up to seven years in jail and a fine of 200,000 to 300,000 lei for passive corruption.