The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has completed the investigation into the involvement of the commercial bank Victoriabank in the banking fraud. The criminal case that consists of 40 volumes refers both to the bank as a legal entity that is accused of money laundering and also to the former president of the bank’s Board, who is charged with considerable swindle and money laundering in the interests of a criminal organization, IPN reports.
“Three weeks ago, at the request of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, the court of law authorized the sequestration of property of the bank to the value of 1.9 billion lei, namely 54 cars, 24 buildings and four special vehicles to the value of 8 million lei and 114 state securities worth 1.85 billion lei. By sequestration, the prosecutors aim to repair the damage caused by the offenses through special confiscation of the property, for the benefit of the state,” Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo told a news conference.
According to him, the sequestration activities will not influence the bank’s daily operations. As to the former president of the bank’s Board, the prosecutor general said she is investigated outside custody after the judges back in March rejected the prosecutors’ request to arrest her.
“We followed the speculations about the “moves against foreign investors”, the investigation of shareholders of this bank or “the hand of Platon” in this investigation. I tried to determine the purpose of such speculations and wonder what the goal and level of responsibility of those who disseminate them are. These actions can generate only uncertainty, destabilization and prolonged distrust in the investigation,” stated Alexandr Stoianoglo.
He noted that the prosecutors do not fulfill orders and have nothing to do with the shareholders or the investors of this bank. The PGO investigates the activity of the bank and its then managers who are suspected of having stolen 2.3 billion lei state funds.
