Construction fraud: from poor materials to rigged bids

Abstract

Corruption in the construction sector affects public safety and the state budget, forcing civil engineers to compromise quality under pressure from firms and political influences. Illegal practices include reducing road layer thickness, bypassing regulations, and fraudulently securing contracts through bribery and political connections. Such companies evade taxes and quality standards, undermining fair competition and leading to rapid infrastructure deterioration. A concrete example is the Vladmih Company SRL case in Bălți, where deadlines were not met, and poor-quality work was delivered. In Chișinău, a construction company director was investigated for bribery and money smuggling, facilitating the approval of construction permits. Addressing this issue requires transparency in contract allocation, strict law enforcement, and severe penalties for fraudulent activities.