Criminal case accusing Vladimir Plahotniuc in "bank fraud" sent to court

Chisinau, July 18. /MOLDPRES/- The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office announces that the criminal case against Vladimir Plahotniuc has been sent to court. He is accused of "committing the crime of creating and leading a criminal organization, fraud and money laundering".

According to the administered evidence, "during 2013-2014, Plahotniuc Vladimir, being the beneficiary and managing through persons interposed by some companies, would have received and benefited from the financial means of about 18,282,000 dollars and 3,518,705 euros, obtained from fraudulent bank loans granted by Banca de Economii, Unibank and Banca Socială to commercial companies that would be part of the Shor group".

According to the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, "during 2014-2015, the accused, being the beneficiary of some off-shore companies, would have received and appropriated credit funds of 21,001,949 dollars, granted by Banca de Economii, to a resident companies managed by Ilan Shor and another managed by Vladimir Andronachi".

"Thus, Vladimir Plahotniuc would have benefited from financial means stolen from Banca de Economii, Unibank and Banca Socială of 39,284,000 dollars and 3,518,705 euros, which would have been used to purchase an airplane Embraer Legacy 650, charter flights, procurement of movable and immovable goods, payment of various legal, medical, tourist, repair and construction services, business investments, organization of events, as well as payment of some debts", the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office said.

On May 29, the Chisinau Court of Appeal rejected the lawyers' approach and upheld without changes the decision of Ciocana-based Chisinau Court, by which the Anticorruption Prosecutor's approach was admitted regarding the authorization to complete the criminal investigation in the absence of the accused.

Thus, the criminal investigation was completed in the absence of the accused Plahotniuc, and the criminal case in 100 volumes together with the indictment on 370 pages was sent for examination to Buiucani-based Chisinau Court, where the 51 prosecution witnesses are to appear for hearings.

Currently, the preventive measure as preventive arrest for 30 days is applied to Plahotniuc. At the same time, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office submitted a repeated approach to the  INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Moldova, requesting the additional address to the General Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organization Interpol in order to issue an international search warning regarding Plahotniuc.

For the crimes, the law stipulates punishment as imprisonment from 8 to 15 years. Under the law, the person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent as long as his guilt is not established by a final court decision.

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