The prosecutors are bringing to an end the investigation into the bank fraud case featuring the former leader of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc that was conducted in the absence of the accused. It is the first episode of completion of the investigation in absentia involving a former politician following the amendment of the relevant legislation, IPN reports.

The prosecutor dealing with the case asked the judge of inquiry of the Ciocana Court to consent to the ending of the investigation of the case in absentia. In the September 6 hearing, the lawyer for Vlad Plahotniuc, after familiarizing himself with the materials presented by the prosecutor, asked to raise the exception of unconstitutionality of the new provisions introduced recently into the Penal Procedure Code, which allow completing the investigation in the absence of the accused. The judge of inquiry is to pronounce on September 8.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said that in the aforementioned bank fraud case, Vlad Plahotniuc is accused of creating and managing a criminal organization, of swindle and money laundering. In 2013-2015, the accused received over US$39 million and €3.5 million in accounts through the agency of nonresident companies founded by Ilan Shor through third persons. The money derived from bank loans that were illegally obtained from BC “Unibank” SA, BC “Banca Socială” SA and BC “Banca de Economii” SA. Property to the value of over 1 billion lei whose effective beneficiary is Vlad Plahotniuc was sequestered in this case.

In another case investigated by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, the judge of inquiry on September 6 applied the procedure for the investigation in absentia and gave his consent for the completion of the investigation in absentia. The given case has been investigated since 2012 and concerns influence peddling committed in December 2010. A man complained about the allegedly illegal actions of two citizens who presented themselves as representatives of a Moldovan political party. The two said they have influence over high-ranking officials and can help the denouncer obtain the post of deputy minister of transport in exchange for €150,000 and then received a first tranche of €50,000 from the denouncer.

In November 2021, the case started against one of the two men was sent to court and is now being examined. The second man absconded and his whereabouts are not known. The judge of inquiry allowed ending the investigation into the case of the second man in absentia and the case is to be sent to court.