Searches in the Theft of External Funds for Refugees

This morning, law-enforcement bodies initiated searches at several locations in the capital, including at the headquarters of the Chisinau Municipal Council’s Health and Social Assistance Department. National Anti-Corruption Centre spokeswoman Angela Starinschi said investigations were underway due to the embezzlement of external funds meant for refugees. “We are at several addresses in the capital, including public officials of the General Directorate of Health and Social Welfare of Chisinau Municipal Council. We will give details after the operation is over,” the spokeswoman specified. In this context, the mayor of the capital, Ion Ceban, issued a reaction in which he stated that his colleagues were ‘persecuted’. “Masked people came today to see the head of the Health Department, Boris Gîlcă, and other employees, because today the Chisinau City Hall is organizing the largest Social Forum and the authorities do not like it, as many guests are coming from abroad,” the mayor said. He added that he has always advocated that individuals should be summoned to come and tell everything they know, without these “ordered performances”. “The financial inspection carried out recently at Patria LukOil did not find any irregularities and came only with recommendations, for an electronic register in place is checked, and video cameras are monitored,” Ion Ceban said. The Patria LukOil building is home to the Ukrainian Refugee Assistance Centre.