Prosecutors confirmed in court that investigators used an undercover operative in the criminal case involving Vladimir Plahotniuc during the 2020–2021 investigation phase. However, the court has so far refused to allow the public reading of the undercover witness’s statements, citing insufficient grounds to justify why the witness cannot testify directly before the judges.
“During closed sessions, the court only establishes the identity of witnesses, because this is an undercover investigator. The reading of statements takes place in public,” prosecutor Alexandru Cernei said.
He explained that the undercover investigator personally knew the defendant and had detailed knowledge of his activities.
“He knew the defendant and was familiar with all of this activity. This witness confirmed multiple circumstances related to the companies involved in the financial transactions,” Cernei stated.
At the same time, the prosecutor emphasized that the case does not rely exclusively on this testimony.
“The evidence is not based solely on this witness. Other evidence confirms all these transactions, including documents that left clear traces, not just witness statements,” he told the court.
On February 9, the court held another hearing in the so-called bank fraud case. Judges heard the final defense witness, Grigore Olar, the liquidator of the former Banca de Economii a Moldovei. The court conducted the hearing by videoconference, as the witness is currently hospitalized.