Prosecutors have requested an additional 30 days of preventive detention for former Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc, citing the risk that he could evade criminal investigation.
Prosecutor Alexandru Cernei said that Plahotniuc’s criminal cases were sent to court in his absence. He added that investigators identified multiple identities linked to the former Democratic leader, as well as new criminal cases opened in his name following the discovery of documents at a residence he was renting in Greece.
“We pointed out during the hearing that the law establishes specific risks that must be invoked and argued when extending a preventive measure. There are four such risks provided by law. We cannot invent new ones at each extension. As long as these risks remain relevant, they are invoked and argued to justify extending the measure,” Cernei said.
Plahotniuc’s defense rejected the prosecution’s arguments. His lawyer, Lucian Rogac, said the alleged risks are unproven and insufficiently substantiated.
“We asked the court to dismiss the prosecutor’s request as unfounded, because the cited risks are neither proven nor properly argued, as required by law,” Rogac stated.
Vlad Plahotniuc has been in preventive detention since September, when he was extradited to the Republic of Moldova.