Moldova’s anti-corruption office faces severe staffing crisis
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) is facing a severe staffing shortage, which is likely to worsen once the institution's new structure is approved.
This statement was made by the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the PA, Octavian Iachimovschi, on the program "360 Degrees" broadcast by Radio Moldova.
At present, only 30 of the 59 prosecutor positions are filled. Another 7 prosecutors have been temporarily delegated by the General Prosecutor’s Office to manage the high workload. According to Iachimovschi, anti-corruption prosecutors are “struggling to cope” with their substantial workload, as each prosecutor handles an average of 50 cases.
“Once the new structure is approved, this staffing shortage is expected to worsen significantly. I estimate that we will experience a shortage of about 60%, which is highly concerning,” Iachimovschi warned.
Another pressing issue facing the PA is the lack of a suitable headquarters to meet current operational needs. Iachimovschi criticized the government for failing to take concrete measures to identify a new building, stressing that the issue cannot be treated superficially. Without urgent and practical solutions, the PA’s activities could face "decline," he cautioned.
On November 25, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced the appointment of two new deputies, Mariana Leahu and Victor Muntean, both of whom bring extensive experience to the system. Leahu began her career as a prosecutor in 2007, specializing in criminal investigations and representing the state prosecution in trial courts. Muntean started his career in 2003 as an interim investigator.
During a recent meeting of the Supreme Security Council, President Maia Sandu described the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office’s performance in combating high-level and political corruption as "a failure." On November 11, the president urged the government and other institutions to propose judicial reforms and implement measures to ensure faster processing of cases involving political and electoral corruption. These proposals were also discussed during public consultations at the Presidential Office, with input from political parties and civil society representatives.
On November 18, Prime Minister Dorin Recean announced that the government would introduce a list of security and financial guarantees for prosecutors and judges handling complex and challenging cases, to protect and support them in their fight against criminal offenders. The Prime Minister emphasized that authorities must prioritize the resolution of corruption cases in the judicial process.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
