Three policemen have been convicted of passive corruption. The patrol officers from Chisinau municipality were sentenced to 5 years suspended imprisonment and cumulative fines of one million lei, IPN reports.

The three patrol officers allegedly demanded and received 400 euros from a driver in order not to draw up a ticket. This would have resulted in a fine of 25 000 lei and the evacuation of the vehicle to the specialized parking.

Two of the officers were sentenced to 5 years in prison suspended on 3 years probation, a fine of 350 000 lei and a ban on holding public office for 8 years. The third officer, accused of complicity, was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment suspended on probation for 2 years, a fine of 300,000 lei and a ban on holding public office for 7 years.

In order to ensure the enforcement of the fine, the seizure of the convicted persons' assets was maintained and the equivalent of 400 euro was jointly and severally confiscated from their account for the benefit of the State.

The sentence can be appealed to the Chisinau Court of Appeal within 15 days.