The Chisinau/Ciocana Court has sequestered the National Hotel, an iconic piece of austere Soviet architecture located in central Chisinau, in the so-called Metalferos case, where the ex-MP Vladimir Andronachi faces charges of money laundering.

The pecuniary damage done in the case is estimated by the Special Cases Prosecutor’s Office at 1.1 billion lei ($57.3 million).

Apart from the money laundering charge, the former lawmaker is also suspected of creating and leading a criminal organization. Andronachi has been declared a fugitive from justice after repeatedly failed to answer summonses.

According to a report by the Service for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering, the suspect is the effective beneficiary of the company that owns the National Hotel. Its equity was estimated at 5.5 million euros in 2018. Prosecutors say the property seized today could be subsequently confiscated to compensate the government for the 1.1 billion damage imputed to Andronachi.