Leadership change at MoldATSA: Interim administrator appointed
Moldatsa, the state-owned enterprise responsible for airspace and air traffic services, has appointed a new interim administrator. The position will be filled by Vasile Șaramet, the former head of the Civil Aeronautical Authority (AAC).
The Public Property Agency (APP) announced a change in management following the termination of Dumitru Vangheli's mandate as the administrator of the state-owned enterprise Moldatsa.
Dumitru Vangheli submitted a resignation request, which was approved by the Board of Directors. He left the Republic of Moldova shortly before anti-corruption officers and prosecutors conducted an investigation at Moldatsa.
The Board of Directors has recommended the appointment of Vasile Șaramet as the interim administrator until a competitive selection process for the management position is organized.
Vasile Șaramet was introduced to the Moldatsa team on Monday, July 27, by Ion Ciumac, the Deputy General Director of the Public Property Agency.
A journalistic investigation from late June revealed that Dumitru Vangheli, the former director of the company responsible for airspace security, obtained his position after providing incorrect information in his CV. He earned a salary of nearly 110,000 lei per month.
Shortly afterward, it was reported that Anastasia Taburceanu, the former spokesperson for Moldatsa and cousin of President Maia Sandu, had a monthly income of 120,000 lei. She resigned and returned all the money she had received from the company.
The scandal led to further resignations. On June 29, Radu Marian, a deputy from the Action and Solidarity Party, announced his resignation as chairman of the parliamentary committee for economy, budget, and finance. Roman Cojuhari also resigned as the director general of the Public Property Agency on the same day, just a week after the Moldatsa scandal emerged.
On July 23, three employees in management positions at the State Enterprise "Moldatsa" were detained for 72 hours following 25 searches conducted by officers from the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) and anticorruption prosecutors.
According to the CNA, the criminal case was initiated due to suspicions that the individuals involved had acted contrary to their duty obligations, either for personal gain or in favor of third parties, from 2024 up to the present.
Investigators reported finding alleged systemic violations in the enterprise's administration, particularly regarding public procurement and the management of financial resources.
The National Anticorruption Center had previously identified several irregularities at Moldatsa. Some individuals were hired without competitive processes or integrity checks, and certain employees held multiple positions concurrently.
Additionally, the CNA found that certain salary increases were awarded without clear performance criteria, including to those who were involved in approving them. The report also highlighted questionable purchases, such as spending millions of lei on training within a short time frame.
