Security and Intelligence Service

of the Republic of Moldova

Seizure of Foreign Assets in Bank Fraud Case

Following the intelligence assessment provided by the Security and Intelligence Service and the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency, the Prosecutor's Office submitted conclusive evidence showing that Vladimir PLAHOTNIUC is the beneficial owner of assets estimated at over 160 million LEI. The mentioned properties are to be seized by the authorities from Romania, France and Switzerland.

 

Namely, it concerns his villas from Switzerland, France and Romania, 5 cars and a boat (registered in Switzerland). Also, 9 apartments, registered in his wife's name, and 4 cars (registered in the Republic of Moldova) are to be seized.

 

According to the findings, the movable and immovable assets resulted allegedly from the money stolen from the banking system of the Republic of Moldova. In order to ensure the recovery of the damage caused by crimes, prosecutors insisted on seizing his properties in the country and abroad.

 

Previously, Ciocana office of the Court of Chișinău Municipality ordered the seizure of 10 real estate objects in the Republic of Moldova – 6 apartments and 4 non-residential premises of the same person, estimated at about 33 million LEI.

 

All the properties of the accused, located on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, have already been seized.

 

The set of documents with the necessary translations were sent to the authorities of France, Switzerland and Romania, in order to be executed.

 

We remind that any person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a definitive and irrevocable court judgement.