State agency Moldsilva dismissed as denigrating the allegations made against it by Sergiu Mocanu, leader of the Antimafia People's Movement, and by three former employees of the agency. The institution says the claims that foresters who want to be employed must pay 5000 euros fees are ungrounded, IPN reports.

According to a Moldsilva press release, Anatol Vengher, Victor Panzaru and Boris Rusu, who spoke to the press, had been fired precisely for the frauds that they accuse Moldsilva of: illegal deforestation. All three are investigated by the Edinet Prosecutor's Office and Vengher is also involved in another case where he is accused of forging his diploma.

As regards the allegations that one must pay to be employed and that foresters also pay a fee for each hectare of forest, Moldsilva says that since the appointment of the new board headed by Stefan Chitoroaga, none of cases denounced by the former employees have been reported or evidenced. The press release reads that about 40 foresters from the 25 branches of the agency have been fired and a new head of the Forestry Patrol has been appointed because of instances of illegal deforestation.

“We are puzzled by the actions of Antimafia leader Sergiu Mocanu who, without any solid evidence and without learning more about the “heroes” of the press conference, took on the role of advocate for people with a shadowy past. Perhaps in his “benefactive actions” he is guided by the hunt for votes before elections”, reads the press release.

Politician Sergiu Mocanu told a press conference that within state company Moldsilva there is a system of money collection, established by former head Anatol Papusoi when he was appointed by the Communists, that is still working today. Any forester who wants to be employed at Moldsilva must pay a 5000 euros fee and a monthly fee of 10 lei per hectare of forest. The money are obtained from the illegal deforestation of the state forest stock.