Dragutanu, Reidman, Leanca, Andronachi or Lupu: Judges accept only 27 witnesses out of the 168 requested by Plahotniuc
On Wednesday, December 3, magistrates at the Chisinau Court in Buiucani accepted only 27 of the 168 witnesses proposed by former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc to be heard in court. The hearings are set to begin on Thursday, December 4.
Among the accepted witnesses are several notable figures, including former Prime Ministers, Members of Parliament, and leaders of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM). The list includes former Prime Minister Iurie Leancă, former President of Parliament Andrian Candu, former deputies Sergiu Sîrbu, Oleg Reidman, Veaceslav Ioniță, Vladimir Andronachi, Marian Lupu, former BNM Governor Dorin Drăguțanu, former Deputy Governor Emma Tăbârță, and notary Olga Bondarciuc, among others.
At a meeting on December 2, lawyer Lucian Rogac requested an expansion of the witness list. Vladimir Plahotniuc stated that hearing these witnesses would help "establish the truth" in the case related to the billion-dollar theft from the banking system of the Republic of Moldova.
Prosecutor Alexandru Cernei noted that some individuals proposed as witnesses are already implicated in other bank fraud cases, while others are currently under criminal investigation as suspects.
Vladimir Plahotniuc appeared before the judges again today, marking his second appearance since his extradition to the Republic of Moldova over two months ago. He declined to comment on the court's decision to hear only 16% of the proposed witnesses.
A new hearing for this case is scheduled for December 4, at which point the witnesses suggested by the defense will begin to be heard.
The only case involving Plahotniuc to go to trial
Vladimir Plahotniuc is currently on trial for his involvement in a “bank robbery” through the creation of a criminal organization, fraud, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that Plahotniuc benefited from financial resources stolen from Banca de Economii, Unibank, and Banca Sociala, totalling over $39.28 million and more than €3.5 million.
According to the prosecution, Plahotniuc used the funds obtained from fraudulent bank loans issued by these three banks for personal gain. This included purchasing an Embraer Legacy 650 aircraft, charter flights, various movable and immovable properties, and payments for legal, medical, tourist, repair, and construction services. He also made business investments, organized events, and settled debts.
Plahotniuc denies the allegations of orchestrating the “billion theft” scheme.
The former politician faces an eight- to 15-year prison sentence if convicted in this case.
In addition to this trial, Vladimir Plahotniuc is under investigation in four other criminal cases: another bank fraud episode, the “Metalferos” scams, the fraudulent procurement of passport forms, and the “Kuliok case,” which also implicates former Moldovan President Igor Dodon.
