The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office reacted after the meeting of the Supreme Security Council, which discussed the need for changes within the institution “given the complete failure in the fight against grand corruption”. The APO invoked the shortage of personnel, including prosecutors and officers, the absence of functional headquarters and of special investigation equipment, IPN reports.
In a press release, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office welcomes the Supreme Security Council’s intention to boost the process of strengthening and empowering the institution, both structurally and legislatively. "We remind that on March 1, the powers to investigate cases of corruption were delimited, the Government becoming involved in a process of empowering the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, a process that is currently underway, as it is complex, in accordance with the European Commission's action plan and national anti-corruption strategies," reads the press release.
The institution argued that there is staff shortage of about 50% and it does not have budgetary resources adequate for its tasks and duties, including functional headquarters and special investigation equipment.
"Following the latest legislative changes, which came into force in March, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office no longer has the power to investigate electoral corruption, but the Government could take into account the experience of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office to investigate such cases and combat this anti-social scourge, which erodes the national security system. We are convinced that the subsequent governmental measures will help strengthen the functional capacities of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office in full, in accordance with the commitments assumed towards the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and foreign partners," says the APO’s press release.
The Supreme Security Council on Monday recommended the Government to come up with changes to improve the work of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office. After the Council’s meeting, President Maia Sandu said that the APO fully failed to fight grand corruption, especially political corruption.
