(UPDATE 15:15) Official Statement made by CNA:  During today's instigation. Three businessmen, along with one deputy minister were arrested for having attempted to illegally sell public property. Now they are investigated for passive and active corruption.

According to the prosecutors, since August 2017 - present, one of the deputy ministers of Finance was made responsible, through Government's decision No. 573, from 19th July 2017, to allocate an amount of 15 million lei to the "Republican Clinical Hospital". Following, the official tried to make the hospital's administration believe that the money transfer would depend solely on her decision and for it to be done, she wanted a reward.

Moreover, she claimed to have been able to influence the decision and allocate a similar amount of money for the institution's repair and renovation works, during the next budget ratification meeting, which will take place during September - October 2017.

The Deputy Minister of Finance has demanded in exchange that Republican Clinical Hospital will favor representatives of certain construction companies, during the next public auction that will take place on 11th October 2017. Promising in exchange 5% of the allocated money, while she herself would also keep 5%.

Anticorruption Officers and prosecutors have begun an investigation for passive and active corruption. After a representative from Republican Clinical Hospital confessed and described everything that happened for documentation. Following this lead, property searches were performed at the suspects workplaces, houses and vehicles.

If found guilty the 4 of them risks from 7 to 15 years of imprisonment and a 8 to 10 thousand conventional units fine, with deprivation from possessing certain functions for the next 10 to 15 years.

(Update 14:06) Four people were arrested during today's operation. Among them counts three businessmen and the deputy minister Maria Cărăuş.

(Update 13:15) Anticorruption officers have also visited deputy minister Maria Cărăuş. She was taken back to the department for questionings.

When asked about how she feels regarding the accusations, Cărăuş declared:

"The officers are simply doing their jobs. I am innocent, have never accepted bribery. Therefore, I will not admit to anything"

She also made an announcement that after searches Anticorruptions officers have not managed to find anything that could prove her guilty.

(12:57) Anticorruption officers are investigating the Ministry of Finance. According to the source, searches begun this morning and multiple employees are suspected.

The information was confirmed for PUBLIKA TV, by Anticorruption squad's spokeswoman Angela Starinschi. 

The press wrote that the case was opened on suspicion of illegal sale of public property. 

Officers have also searched the property of all accused.