Former Chisinau official sentenced for bribery as report highlights judicial delays

Former Chisinau municipal official Iurie Savițchi has been sentenced following his admission of guilt in accepting a 600,000 Moldovan lei bribe. Savițchi, who previously served as head of technical supervision at the capital's general housing department, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors after favoring a contractor during public procurement tenders.

The sentencing coincided with a broader investigation published by Ziarul de Gardă examining the effectiveness of judicial proceedings in Moldova. The report highlighted systemic delays within the Chisinau Court, revealing that over the past six years, only one contested tax evasion trial involving a defendant pleading not guilty resulted in a conviction. The findings underscore ongoing scrutiny regarding how local courts handle financial crime and corruption cases.

Sources: Newsmaker, Ziarul de Gardă.