News

The Association of Independent Press (API) is re-launching the campaign “Fortune at sight”, aiming at promoting transparency in dignitaries' property and income. At the first stage, API shall monitor the degree of observance of Art.13 under the Law no. 1264 from 19.07.2002 on the declaration and control of income and estate, stipulating the obligation to post statements on income and property on official websites. At the second stage, API shall check the statements on property submitted by higher state dignitaries in order to establish if the figures and goods declared do correspond to official data.

The legislation in force foresees the obligation of dignitaries to update their statements on income and property till January 30, filing such at the Central Control Committee (CCC) for statements on income and property (CCC). A press release of the Center for Fighting Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCCEC) reveals that, till January 31 inclusive of this year, approximately one third of public officials filed their statements on income and property at the CCC. „Till 5.00 p.m., the overall number amounted to 1270, equal to 30% of around 4000 persons who are obliged by Law 1264 to make public their income”, Angela Starisnchi, Head of CCCEC Press Service, specified that a part of statements on income are received through post, respectively their number could increase in the following days.

What follows?

The Central Control Committee (CCC) is obliged to conduct the preliminary control of statements, which is unfolded in two stages. The first stage – during 15 working days since the date of submitting the statement, the CCC shall check if the official filed the statement and if he/she filled it in properly, comparing the actual data with the information for the preceding year. The second stage – during 30 working days since the end of the first stage, the correctness of updated information shall be checked by comparing the submitted data with the information furnished by empowered public authorities. Provided any components of infringements (including criminal ones) are detected during preliminary control, the CCC can forward the respective materials for investigation to CCCEC, the body which conducts de facto the control of statements. Although the legislation of R. Moldova foresees punishments for non-declaration of property and income, no public official was ever punished due to gaps in legislation. “Several years ago, two lawsuits were initiated against two policemen whose declared data did not match the real official information, but last year the policemen were acquitted”, Angela Starinschi declared.

Transparency

The legislation in force foresees that, latest March 3, 2011, the Head of the state, deputies, members of the Government, Chairman/Chairwoman of Constitutional Court, Chairman/Chairwoman of Higher Court of Justice, General Prosecutor, Chairman/Chairwoman of the Court of Accounts, Governor of National Bank of Moldova, Director of Secret Information Service, mayors of cities, towns and villages, district Chairmen/Chairwomen are obliged to make public their estate, posting their declarations on income and property on official websites of institutions or in mass-media. Article 13 of the Law no.1264 clearly foresees that statements on income and property „are published on a yearly basis in republican or local mass-media, as well as the official websites of Presidency, Parliament, Government, Ministries, other central or local public institutions or authorities”. Consequently, the statement on income and property of the Head of State for the year 2010 must be posted on Presidency's official website, the statements of the deputies – on Parliament's website, those of ministers – on Government's website, etc.

Also within the campaign „Fortune at sight”, API urges the dignitaries to announce their statements on income and property earlier, sending them in scanned version to the email address api@api.md. Every week, API shall issue press releases with the names of dignitaries and public officials who have accepted to make public their estate.

API's monitoring within the campaign „Fortune at sight” shows that, on February 1, ten state dignitaries showed off their estate on websites of the institutions they run.

They are:

- Director of CCCEC, Viorel Chetraru
(http://cccec.md/Declaratii_de_venit)

- Director of Secret Information Service, Gheorghe Mihai
(http://www.sis.md/md/Declara%C5%A3ii%20de%20avere/)
- Chairwoman of Court of Accounts, Ala Popescu
(http://www.ccrm.md/md/presedintele/)
- Governor of National Bank, Dorin Drăguţanu
(http://bnm.md/md/nbm_organization)
- Chisinau General Mayor, Dorin Chirtoacă
(http://www.chisinau.md/lib.php?l=ro&idc=510&)
- Chisinau Deputy Mayor, Nistor Grozavu
(http://www.chisinau.md/lib.php?l=ro&idc=510&)
- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy, Valeriu Lazăr
(http://www.mec.gov.md/prim-viceprim-ministru)
- Minister of Finances, Veaceslav Negruţa
(http://www.mf.gov.md/ro/newsitem/636)
- Minister of Youth and Sports, Ion Cebanu
(http://www.mts.gov.md/Conducerea_Ministerului)
- Minister of Informational Technologies and Communications, Pavel Filip
(http://www.mtic.gov.md/filip_p/)

P. S. The first campaign „Fortune at sight” was implemented by API and Anti-Corruption Alliance in the year 2008. As a result, the Law no.1264 was amended, stipulating the obligation of dignitaries to post the statements on income and property on official websites.

Diana Lungu, Association of Independent Press

source: www.api.md