The head of Călărași district in central Moldova and a district councilman were put under preventive arrest for 30 days, while the mayor of Călărași city got 20 days of preventive arrest.

The officials were first apprehended on January 31 on procurement fraud charges.

Prosecutors say that in 2022 the suspects conspired to create unfair advantages for certain contractors in exchange for bribes in various forms. They allegedly charged 10-15% of the contracted services’ value. Investigations revealed at least 10 such instances.