Vladimir Plahotniuc remains in preventive detention for another 30 days

Vladimir Plahotniuc will remain in preventive detention for another 30 days in the Bank Fraud case, an episode that directly concerns him. The decision was pronounced by the judges of the Chișinău Court, Buiucani headquarters, on December 22, with the case currently in the judicial investigation phase.

The court admitted the request submitted by prosecutor Alexandru Cernei, and the new term of the preventive measure will start on December 24, 2025. On this same date, the other arrest warrants issued against Vladimir Plahotniuc in the three cases still in the criminal investigation phase will also expire.

In the upcoming sessions, the court is to hear the defense witnesses. Among the first witnesses expected to be heard is the former deputy governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Ion Sturzu. The judges have accepted the hearing of 27 defense witnesses, out of a total of 164 proposed by Vladimir Plahotniuc.

So far, in the judicial investigation, five witnesses have been heard: former president of Victoriabank, Natalia Politov-Cangas, former parliament speaker, Andrian Candu, suspended employee of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM), Ion Ropot, former BNM governor Dorin Dragutanu and an expert and former MP Veaceslav Ionita.

The witness list includes former leaders of the National Bank of Moldova, former dignitaries, former administrators of the banks involved in the bank fraud, as well as more individuals indicted in cases related to the one-billion theft scandal.

Vladimir Plahotniuc has been in preventive detention since September 25, 2025, after being extradited from Greece, at which time the four arrest warrants issued against him were fulfilled. He is currently held in Penitentiary No. 13 from Chisinau and is being investigated in four high-profile criminal cases involving, among other things, the formation and leadership of a criminal organization, fraud, money laundering and bank fraud.