Vladimir Plahotniuc allegedly obtained two new fake identities, head of IGP
Vladimir Plahotniuc, an internationally wanted oligarch, allegedly has two additional fake identities beyond those previously known. This information was revealed by Viorel Cernăuțeanu, the head of the General Police Inspectorate (IGP), during a show on Jurnal TV. He indicated that these findings emerged from alerts generated in the Interpol system, which were later confirmed by authorities from a foreign state.
"Two or three weeks ago, we were suspicious due to alerts in the Interpol search system. Our colleagues in Lyon, the central office, also informed us that someone at a border had accessed this person's data. We took the necessary steps and requested the Emirates and two other countries where the search alert appeared. To our surprise, one of these countries informed us that the basis for the verification was an image alert related to the same individual, who was involved in a case of identity theft," stated Cernăuțeanu.
He further explained that "the alert involved an image of him, but with the identity of another citizen. He had assumed two foreign identities different from the ones we know through our search channels."
When asked which country he was referring to, Cernăuțeanu declined to provide details, citing that he could not disclose information without the consent of the respective authorities, as the communication occurred solely through police channels.
We remind you that in late March, ZDG published an investigation revealing that Vladimir Plahotniuc obtained a new Mexican identity in 2024. According to ZdG, he holds a passport, birth certificate, and identity card issued under the name Vito Perez Gonzalez. In response to this issue, the head of the IGP stated that there is no official confirmation regarding Plahotniuc's Mexican citizenship.
“We cannot confirm that he has Mexican citizenship. The Mexican state has not issued any confirmation regarding this. We are discussing an identity assigned by the Mexican state amid suspicions of forgery, but we do not have confirmation that he is a citizen,” declared Cernăuțeanu.
Vladimir Plahotniuc fled the Republic of Moldova in the summer of 2019 after the Democratic Party of Moldova lost power. In the same year, the authorities in Chișinău requested his prosecution through Interpol, and an arrest warrant was issued against him for crimes including creating and leading a criminal organization, fraud, and money laundering. According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Plahotniuc allegedly benefited from over $39 million and €3.5 million stolen from Banca de Economii, Unibank, and Banca Socială. Furthermore, in December 2022, British authorities imposed sanctions on Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor, who are both accused in the "Bank Fraud" case. Previously, they were also placed on the sanctions list by the US for their involvement in systemic corruption and for influencing electoral processes in favor of Russia.
