Moldovan prosecutors target Plahotniuc's assets in France
Last week, searches, witness interrogations, and seizures of various assets owned by Vladimir Plahotniuc took place in France.
The criminal investigation measures were carried out by Moldovan prosecutors in collaboration with their French counterparts, announced Veronica Dragalin, the head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, in a press conference. The actions occurred from January 9 to 11 in connection with the "Bank Fraud" criminal case.
"Last week, Moldovan prosecutors and officers travelled to France to witness the search procedures, witness hearings, and other actions taking place there," stated Veronica Dragalin.
Before these measures, several real estate properties owned by Vladimir Plahotniuc were seized, as mentioned by the deputy chief prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Octavian Iachimovschi.
"These properties were registered under companies both in France and Cyprus. Apparently, there was no connection between these companies and Vladimir Plahotniuc. However, the evidence we managed to gather during this period, as a result of these searches, unquestionably proves ownership. Several individuals were also interviewed regarding these facts," mentioned Octavian Iachimovschi.
According to the National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA), the criminal investigation actions were conducted in the Haute-Savoie Department, in the town of Sciez, and the localities of Combloux, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Sallanches, and Douvaine, from January 9 to 11, 2024. The focus was on three real estate properties identified through information exchange and coordination efforts with French authorities. These properties were registered under legal entities but were de facto owned by Vladimir Plahotniuc's family, as demonstrated by the discovery of personal belongings, including family photos, inside the properties.
"As a result of the searches, financial means (92,000 euros and 3,000 Swiss francs) were seized, and the origin of the money will be determined, followed by the application of seizure. Technical supports, phones, and several documents were also confiscated for investigation in the criminal case, providing additional information about other real estate and movable properties belonging to the Plahotniuc family, such as the villa in Switzerland. Witnesses were also interviewed, indicating that the actual beneficiary of the searched assets is V.P. Before the searches, a seizure was applied to the mentioned assets to ensure the repair of the damage caused by the crime," communicated the CNA.
It is worth mentioning that in July 2023, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office brought a criminal case against Vladimir Plahotniuc in absentia, and currently, the preventive measure of pre-trial detention for a period of 30 days has been applied.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
