New Airline Fly One and Private Interests of the Civil Aviation Authority Director, Confirmed by ISS

Author: Victoria Dodon

11/05/2016 58904

Mircea Maleca, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is allegedly the real business partner of the family of Ministry of Justice Vladimir Cebotari in the new airline company Fly One. The official is hiding behind his former father- in-law from Leova. This is confirmed by a letter signed by Mihai Balan, Director of the Information and Security Service (ISS), that recently came into possession of portal Anticoruptie.md. Although its authenticity is not confirmed, ISS heads claim in an official response that the CAA managers abuse power by promoting private interests in civil aviation, which would be contrary to state interests.

Ina and Mircea Maleca Photo: facebook.com

According to the document attached to a notification on the Corruption Map, head of CAA Mircea Maleca owns a share in Fly One company that operate flights as of the beginning of this month, through an affiliated person. Anticoruptie.md wrote previously in an investigation that the company, registered in autumn last year, has among its founders Maria Cebotari, wife of the current Minister of Justice Vladimir Cebotari, while his sister Mariana Tabuica is the new executive director. According to data of the State Registration Chamber, Maria Cebotari owns a participation quota of 40% (200.000 lei), while the Romanian Nicu Adrian Berla known in Romania as one of the shareholders of the Fly Level Company, specialized in pilotage training and training of flight attendants, contributed in the business with 20%.

Tudor Carabadjac, teacher of Physical Education (PE) and former director of the gymnasium in village Orac, district Leova owns another 40% in this company. With his help, family Maleca became affiliated founder of the new air company. More exactly, daughter of Tudor Carabadjac, Ina Maleca, is the former wife of the director of the CAA, currently Associate Professor at the Faculty of Accounting and Economic Computer Science at the Cooperative-Commercial University in Moldova.

In 2011, her father was elected district councilor in Leova on the lists of the Democratic Party in Moldova, and the 2014 income statement shows that the teacher received 61.111 lei from the activity of director, has 3 plots, owns a house with a surface of 100 square meters and a car Dacia Sandero, 2013 bought in the same year at the price of 147.000 lei. Contacted by Anticoruptie.md, the man said: "It is not your business. Good bye."

The same document which anticoruptie.md took possession of, shows that on the background of some historical debts of the State Enterprise Air Moldova, Mircea Maleca was planning to cease extension of operating permits of some of the most profitable routes of the operator: Bologna, Antalya, Milan, Venice and Verona, which would be ceded to company Fly One.

In case these intentions materialize, Air Moldova (current leader on the local market of air transportation) will have serious financial losses, its market value might reduce up to 60%, writes the letter. Otherwise, some of the aforementioned destinations are part of 11 flights promised by Fly One early in April. Meanwhile, the airline announced the official launch on April 30 in a posting on its Facebook page: "We are ready! Welcome on board with Fly One!"

This is despite the fact that the operator's official website has not yet been released, and the company’s name is missing from the list of operators certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova, updated on March 30. It is worth mentioning that Fly One wrote in its leaflets that own the necessary fleet - modern Airbus A320 aircraft with a capacity of 172 seats and a reserve plane Boeing 737-300 with 148 seats. According to the price list for 2016 Airbus manufacturer, a plane A320 costs 98 million dollars. We tried to find if the aircrafts are new and have been purchased or leased, but Fly One representatives did not accept to discuss about it.

The letter that came into possession of Anticoruptie.md portal:

Abuse of power by the Civil Aviation Authority

Information and Security Service has not confirmed or denied the authenticity of the document. "There are certain legal requirements that do not allow us to give you an answer to your expectations. It is about many aspects, including in terms of respect to privacy and the presumption of innocence,” said the deputy director of ISS Ruslan Munteanu in a phone call. Instead, representatives of the institution confirm that the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority abuse of power by promoting private interests in civil aviation, which is contrary to state interests.

Fly One aircraft Photo: Mihail Armas / facebook.com

"Our information shows undermining the state enterprise Air Moldova’s potential through influence, in order to favor private interests in the area, including by using levers assigned to CAA to issuance / extension of permits", writes a reply of ISS for portal Anticoruptie.md.

Also, representatives from the Information and Security Service say that they own information about how the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority brokered dubious transactions between some airlines.

Director of CAA Mircea Maleca denies of having ever expressed abusive behavior to Air Moldova company. "On the contrary, most times certificates and permissions are considered priority and they are issued within the term set by analysis, creating all favorable conditions for the national airliner to operate without deviation", said the official for Anticoruptie. md. He underlined that he had no family relationship with the founder of the company Fly One Tudor Carabadjac.

Also, Sergiu Bucataru, deputy minister of Transportation and member of the administration Council of Air Moldova did not want to comment on the information of representatives from ISS. "I do not have any evidence that would show direct intentions of harming Air Moldova, and in the absence of documents that would confirm the accusations, it is not fair to comment on it", said the deputy minister. According to him, the economic situation in the state operator is getting better. "According to financial reports, including the one for March, Air Moldova continues to get a rise in revenues. This is due to the increase of passenger flow and the level of aircraft loading. New routes have been opened lately. All these circumstances have a positive impact on the company and I hope that it will recover and will reach a normal activity determined only by profit ", said Sergiu Bucataru.

Also, the official admitted that Fly One is a competitor of Air Moldova, "especially that intends to operate shared destinations", but in his view, the spirit of competition has advantages. "The appearance of a company will have a positive impact for the citizens, because we can expect price reductions to attract customers", says Sergiu Bucataru.

The official reply addressed to portal Anticoruptie.md:

On her turn, Ina Maleca denied the fact that her father is an affiliate of the company Fly One SRL, saying that this is gossip. "Why are you interested in my private life? You would like to write about gossips that ultimately will not be true? Before writing an article, put yourself in someone’s shoes. Do not interfere in my private life. All I read are gossips, nothing is true”, she said.

With a wage of over 62.000 MDL and illegal companies

Mircea Malec (center) and Vladimir Cebotari (right) at an event organized by Air Moldova
Video capture: Prime.md

The current Director of the Civil Aviation Authority was chairperson of Air Moldova during July 2013 - August 2015, previously holding the position of Financial Director. Last August, he resigned, justifying his decision by personal reasons. Mircea Maleca and Vladimir Cebotari worked together at the state company Air Moldova, where during 2006 - 2011 the current minister was Director of the Legal department. Cebotari was Head of the Civil Aviation Authority as of December 2011 to June 2013.

Maleca is publicly known as one of the best paid functionaries by the state. In 2015, he received an income of 747.948 lei from salary, over 62.000 lei per month. The functionary owns a car Audi, purchased in 2011 at the price of 635.250 lei, a car BMW purchased in 2013 at the price of 425.000 lei and 600.000 lei on a bank account opened in 2005.

According to the income statement, last year Maleca gained 300,000 MDL after he sold his 58 square meters flat in Buiucani sector, which he owned together with his former wife. He did not declare any other real estate, building or land. As of 2010, the Malecas owned another 96 square meters apartment, estimated at half of million MDL, which as of 2012 is owned by his wife as a result of the contract on ending joint property.

The current Director of the Civil Aviation Authority declared a share of 50% in a Romanian trade company – Avella SRL. However, as in 2014, he forgot to declare the companies he created in Moldova, about which Anticoruptie.md wrote earlier. Thus, the Data of the State Registration Chamber shows that Maleca is the founder of four companies. Together with Vladimir Țopa and Natalia Pivovarova he created in 1997, SRL Fortissimo-Comerț. The company was specializing in accounting. Another company Maleca appears as co-founder is the newspaper Независимая газета SRL, created in 2001 together with Alexandr Kazakov, Victor Staric and Iuri Tiscenco, who is the manager of the company. Also, Mircea Maleca is the founder and manager of the enterprise “Mircea Maleca” created in 2001, specialized in terrestrial transport services. The fourth company Mircea Maleca is co-founder of is SRL Breitman Grup, created in 2014 together with Marcel Tanas and Vera Sîrbu. The company has many fields of activity, including the trade with food products. It is managed by the brother of the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Eugeniu Maleca.

This investigation was carried out within the framework of the Campaign "Journalists for Transparency in Public Funds Management", implemented by the Center for Investigative Journalism with the support of the Good Governance Program of Soros Moldova Foundation. The subject and content of published investigations do not necessarily reflect the views of the donor.

Investigations in the same category:

The war between Aliyev and Moser: How the Giurgiulesti International Free Port became EBRD property

● EBRD bought from the Austrian company Febania Gmbh, the Cypriot company ThoMo Invest LTD, which owned the Danube group of companies and, implicitly, the Giurgiulesti International Free Port ● Febania Gmbh Company was opened by the former manager of Danube Logistics SRL, Thomas Moser, on the eve of the unfavorable decision of the first instance court of Moldova in its dispute with Bemol ● Ahead of this deal, EBRD owned 65% of Danube Logistics Holding BV's revenues One of the most important strategic objectives of the Republic of Moldova - Giurgiulesti International Free Port - has become the subject of
How separatists in breakaway regions mine cryptocurrencies for terrorist financing and money laundering

● Characters from the Kremlin's entourage revolve around the cryptocurrency business in the pro-Russian separatist republics of Moldova and Ukraine. ● The mining activity takes place with cheap or free raw material guaranteed by Moscow. ● Legislation in this area is still in a grey zone, and Bitcoin has exceeded the level of 25,000 US dollars per unit. Andriy, 38, lives in a modest apartment in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Unemployed, he decided to make some money by installing a "cryptocurrency farm" in his bedroom. He is already used to the noise of coolers, and the gain is guaranteed. "For a
SCHEMES // Protective equipment, made in Moldova, exported to Poland, as COVID-19 crisis is in full swing

In full swing of a pandemic crisis, when Moldovan hospitals are facing a lack of coronavirus protective equipment and Moldovan authorities spend millions of public money on their import, an economic agent from Balti is exporting protective equipment to Poland. The equipment was exported by two air flights, operated by Ryanair, on April 11 and 14, respectively. This happened amid the ban on the export of protective equipment, obviously, with the help of the authorities, who do not assume responsibility and say they have banned the export of gloves and masks, but not of protective equipment. The company that exported
THE CRYPTOREPUBLIC

● The main beneficiary of the cryptocurrency business in the breakaway region of Transnistria is the Sheriff holding and a former employee of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation. ● The equipment was purchased through a bank involved in the theft of the billion. ● The actors and companies involved have businesses in the energy sector, telecommunication, internet in Crimea and in the Western countries in Europe. Tehnopark company is located in the Business Center "Rossia", one of the most modern buildings in Tiraspol, the main city of the breakaway region of Transnistria, in contrast to the grey of Soviet architecture. This is a
European funded roads rehabilitated with significant delays

Four out of 13 companies, that have been shortlisted in international tenders over the last five years in order to rehabilitate the national roads of the Republic of Moldova, have been sanctioned for delays in the execution of the works. All fined companies are international and the amount of fines exceeds EUR 3.8 million. The four companies that were sanctioned for delays in the execution of the works were contracted during 2011-2014 for repairing several areas on national the routes Chisinau - Soroca, Chisinau - Comrat - Giurgiulesti, Chisinau - Ungheni - Sculeni and for the construction of Ungheni bypass
Bypass road, “bypassed” by the Authorities

Announced with great pomp in early 2012, Chisinau's bypass road remained just an unfulfilled promise. Five years after the announcement of the project, the authorities did not even develop a feasibility study to determine the need for the ring road and its route. In the absence of the “plan”, however, a construction company was contracted, which conducted only 3% of the works in two years on a bypass road segment that was to be ready in January 2018. The whole Bypass road would cost about EUR 200 million, money the authorities do not know where to take from. The first
Till the first earthquake happens

It's usually said about houses and building, constructed in the Republic of Moldova after 1991, they will resist before the first earthquake will happen. This is an emotional evaluation of things. And two earthquakes with a moderate magnitude that happened in September and December of 2016 proved it. What's the actual situation in the construction sphere? And, is there a possibility for a total damage to happen to a person and his property, because of builders or officials’ fault? Features in Moldavian constructions “When I was a student, my professors used to tell me: “There is an unique environment in
How several presidential candidates pocketed electoral money

The campaign for 2016 presidential elections with a budget worth almost 60 million lei has been one of the most expensive in Moldova so far. The money collected from thousands of sponsors: students, pensioners or unemployed, prosperous businessmen reached the accounts of some companies that manage TV channels. The main beneficiary of the electoral campaign held this autumn fall is the first deputy-chairman of the Democratic Party, owner of 4 TV channels. Most of the contenders aired election ads on these TV channels. About 40 per cent of electoral funds of the 12 candidates were paid to the accounts
Ukraine-Moldova-Transnistria: golden triangle of smuggling

Almost every month, law enforcement officers of Ukraine report about delaying of alcohol and cigarettes smuggling from Moldova. However, in Ukraine the quantity of smuggled goods does not become less–“Privoz” in Odessa, which is one of the oldest and largest existing markets in Europe, is crowded with contraband cigarettes. They sell it without checks and excise duties are questionable. Internet is full of proposals of Moldovan cigaretteswholesale. However, official data indicates that for more than two years Moldovacigarettesare not imported to Ukraine. However, traders are ready to sell illegal goodsby blocks, which prove the magnitude of the supply of
The grain market in Moldova, under the Russian monopoly

The wheat harvest this year was plenteous, with an average quantity of 3.4 tons per hectare. Nevertheless, the small producers will not benefit of this situation, because they are compelled to sell their grains to a derisory price. The only beneficiary is Trans-Oil, a holding consisting in a series of off-shores registered in Switzerland and Cyprus and joint-stock companies form Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. The company is controlled by the Russian citizen Vazha Dzashi, who was born in Georgia (USSR), holds an American passport and hi is member of the Council of Administration of the Moldovan Businessman Association. Trans-Oil, a
Energy (in)dependence of Ukraine and Moldova: After association with the EU

The desire to join the European Union, voiced by Ukraine and Moldova, set the agenda of the authorities, including the issue of the system of purchase and supply of natural gas. Nevertheless, the assessment of the situation to date, carried out by a group of journalists from Moldova and Ukraine, shows that the market of gas in both countries still has some problems, and carries the risk of corruption. Embezzlement of public funds, key intermediary firms of dubious reputation, monopoly - these are the main features of the gas market in the two post-Soviet countries. "Moldova to Russia’s pocket". How it
New Airline in the Pocket of the Minister of Justice

A new airline will operate in Moldova as of May 2016 and will transport passengers to several European cities. The company was registered last autumn and has as founders Maria Cebotari, wife of the current Minister of Justice, Vladimir Cebotari, while his sister, Mariana Tabuica, would be the new executive director. The Minister confirmed that his family started a new business and it's just a way to earn a living. "Just like any citizen of this country, I cope with problems", says the official who gets a monthly income from ministerial activity of about 16,000 lei. Initially, Fly One promises flights
False Flags of Moldova: Azerbaijan-Netherland’s Track

The story of Giurgiulești port, „the incubator” of Moldavian flag for ships business, begins with an extremely onerous business involving the communists led by former president Vladimir Voronin, Azerbaijan businessmen and companies, Swiss credit companies, other companies registered in the Netherlands, as well as a BERD former employee that later became one of the business heads. One of the constant players that are to be described later on is the business man, Thomas Mosser. The story of the Romanian port of Giurgiulești began in 1993 when Andrei Sangheli, Moldavian former prime minister intended to build a port right in the
"Platonic" Ukrainians’ businesses in Chisinau

Oleksandr Pinchuk, a Ukrainian national and a former head of the National Bureau of Motor Vehicle Insurers of the Republic of Moldova, has been on the wanted list of the Moldovan authorities for almost a year by now. He became a key person of interest for the National Anticorruption Centre and the Anticorruption Prosecution Office when the Bureau suffered 30 million leu damages. However, Pinchuk, who is also a successful lawyer from Ukraine, goes to work every day, meets his partners and participates in public life of the neighboring state without any problems. We have found him and even talked
Audit with interests? Who owns the companies selected by the Ministry of Finance to carry out financial controls at state enterprises?

The government has recently approved a list of 37 audit companies, filled by the Ministry of Finance, that will audit the financial statements of state enterprises or companies in which the state share exceeds 50 percent of the social capital. One of the companies approved to make checks in 2015 is that of Ion Prisacaru, head of the State Tax Inspectorate (STI) and other companies related to former employees of Finance Ministry. The National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA) conducted a survey on the corruptibility of the draft decision of the Government in March and warned about situations of conflicts of
Off-SHOR Airport via Russia (II)

To ensure incomes estimated at over one billion Euros to the company „Avia Invest”, managed by the current mayor of Orhei Ilan Shor, the main suspect in the case on the theft of billion from the financial-banking system of the Republic of Moldova, the Government does not want to annul an airport fee which the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) reported that it was perceived illegally. From the central rostrum of Parliament, the CNA director suggests that money stolen from BEM is laundered at the Airport, but the officials from the Center who investigate the case wait for answers from Russia.
Off-SHOR Airport via Russia

Chisinau International Airport (AIC) lease is one of the most controversial "businesses" concluded by the Government of the Republic of Moldova in recent years. Although 5 European companies with experience in airport activity were invited to participate in the contest, the competition commission chose an anonymous company, founded by an airport in Russia and a Russian factory of locomotives production, which ceded the "business" to an off-shore. Today, investments in Airport modernization are made mostly based on money from the activity of AIC transferred to the accounts of companies close to Ilan Shor. „Business” AIC - An opaque contest, won by
The confidential report of the Commission of Minister Cebotari and Airport leasing

President of the Commission on assessing the Chisinau International Airport leasing agreement, Minister of Justice Vladimir Cebotari admitted that "Avia Invest" has not fulfilled some of the provisions stipulated by the agreement, but he argues that there are no grounds for terminating the agreement. Termination was recommended by the National Anti-Corruption Center, after they had identified some irregularities about set investments and after certain revenues of the airport would have arrived at the football club of mayor in Orhei, Ilan Sor. Ex-Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet claims that the first part of the Report shows grounds for termination and the
Companies of Iurcu’s friends continue to win contracts with Moldtelecom

Companies affiliated to Vitalie Iurcu, currently Deputy Minister of Economy and ex-director of Moldtelecom, continue to be key procurement partners of the joint venture owned by the state, even after he left the company. Recently, just through one invoice, to the firm’s accounts established by Iurcu’s friends, were transferred 700,000 lei. Previously, we demonstrated how several companies belonging to friends or business partnersof VitalieIurcu, then director of Moldelecom, obtained multi-million contracts with this joint stock company owned by the state. The information is now confirmed by recent acts, which came into our possession, demonstrating that Moldtelecom continues to buy from

Previous article on the same topic

Next to the same topic

The stories from www.anticoruptie.md may be used in the limit of up to 1,000 characters. Web pages must indicate the source and link directly to the article. Print media, Radio and TV stations must indicate the source. Publishing full version of stories is allowed based on a prior agreement with the Center for Investigative Journalism. Articles published on www.anticoruptie.md are protected by the Law on copyright and related rights of Republic of Moldova.

Comments