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Driver Beware! Moldova Cancels Corrupt Licences

The Public Services Agency (ASP) is undertaking continuous efforts to eradicate corruption within its driver's licence examination sections, according to a recent statement by ASP Director Mircea Eșanu on a TV8 program.

Since the beginning of the year, Eșanu reported that 9 employees have been dismissed and 16 others hired. However, he emphasised that achieving a significant reduction in corruption also requires final convictions in corruption cases, which are currently lacking. Eșanu acknowledged that the practice of document fraud persists, and the ASP is implementing several measures to curb its prevalence.

"We are currently in the process of implementing a system of constant examiner rotation across different testing locations," Eșanu explained. "This means that examiners may report to work in the morning and be assigned to travel to Bălți or Cahul to conduct examinations. This rotation system is necessary to prevent examiners from forming relationships with driving test applicants at any one location."

Eșanu continued, "While inconvenient, we are prepared to provide examiners with transportation between testing locations. This approach proves to be more cost-effective than the tragic consequence of examiners accepting bribes, which could endanger lives on crosswalks and roadways."

It is worth noting that Director Eșanu recently appeared on Radio Moldova's "La 360 de grade" (At 360 degrees") program, where he indicated that the ASP may soon revoke the licence of a number of drivers. This action follows the arrest of several ASP employees from Bălți on corruption charges, including allegations of bribery and influence peddling in connection with the issuance of driving licences. In March 2023, similar arrests were made involving six ASP employees from both the Bălți and Chișinău offices as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Olga Mînzat

Olga Mînzat

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