Officers of the National Anti-Corruption Centre (CNA) and prosecutors in Cahul conducted searches on 22 June in a case involving alleged manipulation of public procurement procedures.
Investigators targeted the president of the Taraclia district, Lazari Dermenji, along with two alleged accomplices: the chair of the district’s construction commission and a public procurement specialist.
According to the CNA, the suspects allegedly rigged tender procedures and steered contracts toward a company indirectly controlled by the chair of the construction commission through intermediaries.
The investigation indicates that the suspects negotiated project prices and inflated cost estimates to favour affiliated companies. The contracts under scrutiny mainly involved small-scale renovation works at educational institutions.
Authorities estimate that the alleged scheme caused damage of around 3 million lei to the public budget in 2025 alone.
Searches took place at offices, homes, and vehicles connected to the suspects. The CNA stated that the individuals are expected to remain under investigation while at liberty.