Justice

Veaceslav Platon remains in custody in the UK until the end of November

Moldovan prosecutors' request to extradite the controversial businessman Veaceslav Platon from the United Kingdom will be examined in detail at the end of November. The London court stated that he remains in custody after being detained on March 13 at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Moldova. This information was confirmed to RFE/RL by the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.

Preliminary hearings in Veaceslav Platon's extradition case began in April, and as of June 23, eight court hearings had taken place. Two additional preliminary hearings are scheduled before the case is considered on its merits. The actual extradition trial is set to begin on Monday, November 24, and will continue until Friday, November 28.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Moldova alleges that Platon, along with others, was involved in a money laundering scheme from 2010 to 2014. This allegation formed the basis for the extradition request.

In his defense, Veaceslav Platon's British lawyer, Peter Caldwell, stated to Reuters that his client is “a dissident” who has sought political asylum in the UK. He cited the inhumane treatment Platon reportedly faced after being extradited from Ukraine to Moldova in 2016.

Platon is currently under investigation in a criminal case known as the "Laundromat." He is accused of organizing and leading a criminal organization and knowingly facilitating court decisions that were contrary to the law.

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