Ion Ceban accused of illegal business practices in Chisinau
The current mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, is being accused of using illegal methods to drive some businesses in the capital city to bankruptcy, according to a candidate for mayor of the Platform for Dignity and Truth Party, Victor Chironda.
Chironda was referring to the case of a business owner who manages a company that sells auto parts and accessories. The owner won a public tender to supply the Chisinau Municipal Association of Green Space Management with equipment and accessories for snow removal, sweeping, and street cleaning.
The owner of the company said that he was pressured by city officials to reduce the price of the equipment specified in the contract.
"He uses the public procurement process to embezzle money. Now we have the opportunity to see what happens when the corrupt officials in the city hall cannot share the stolen money among themselves. Since taking office, Ion Ceban has trampled on the public procurement law and prefers to make all sorts of schemes and agreements," Chironda said.
Contacted by phone, Natalia Ixari, the mayor's communications adviser, referred to a meeting of city services yesterday, where the official opinion on the case was presented. At the meeting, Vice Mayor Irina Gutnic said that the business owner's contract had been found to be non-compliant.
"The price indicated in the proposed offer was worth 23.5 million lei. It was proposed to reduce the contract price to be in line with market prices, or at least with those offered by official distributors," Gutnic concluded.
It is worth noting that an investigation was published in the media about a business owner who won the right to supply the equipment through a public tender and who accuses city officials of illegally asking him to accept a reduction in the contract price of over 3 million lei.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
