Prosecutors appealed court ruling in case of Vladimir Plahotniuc

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (AP) today appealed the ruling of the judges of the Chisinau Court, Buiucani branch, in the case of Vladimir Plahotniuc, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison in the bank fraud case. Prosecutors emphasize that “the punishment imposed is too lenient and does not reflect the gravity of the crimes committed”.

According to the AP, the court confirmed the defendant’s guilt on the basis of clear evidence and established that the acts were committed intentionally, within a criminal organization. It was also demonstrated that he played a decisive role, including in organizing and leading it.

“The crimes caused enormous damage to the banking system and seriously affected the economy, the image, and the public’s trust in state institutions. Thus, there are no mitigating circumstances that would justify a reduced sentence, and the court did not sufficiently take into account the defendant’s personality and the risk of committing new crimes,” the institution noted.

In this context, prosecutors are requesting the partial annulment of the sentence, a retrial of the case and a 25‑year prison sentence.

“Prosecutors are appealing the court’s refusal to order the confiscation of the amounts of 39.2 million dollars and 3.5 million euros. Recovery of damages and special confiscation are different measures with distinct purposes and can be applied simultaneously. Therefore, the prosecution considers that a harsher punishment and the application of confiscation are necessary to reflect the gravity of the acts and to prevent such crimes in the future,” the AP said.

On April 22, 2026, the judges sentenced Vladimir Plahotniuc to 19 years in prison. He was found guilty of creating and leading a criminal organization, fraud, and money laundering in the bank fraud case. The judges also ordered the collection from Vladimir Plahotniuc of approximately 60 million dollars, representing the damage caused by the embezzlement of the three banks involved in the case. Until the sentence becomes final, the preventive measure in the form of pre‑trial detention has been maintained in respect of the defendant.

In addition to the bank fraud case, Vladimir Plahotniuc is also under investigation on other charges, including forgery of documents. The criminal proceedings in this case were initiated on the basis of documents seized by Greek investigators from the house that the former Democratic leader was renting in Athens, Greece. The documents show that he allegedly used multiple identities, with a total of 18 false documents having been discovered.

Vladimir Plahotniuc has been in pre‑trial detention since September 25, 2025, after being extradited from Greece, at which point the four arrest warrants issued in his name were enforced. He is currently held in Penitentiary No. 13 in Chisinau.