Moldova’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has completed its investigation and sent to court a criminal case involving a former deputy chairman of the board of Victoriabank, who held the position in 2014.
The former bank executive is accused of complicity in fraud and money laundering as part of the case commonly known as the “Bank Fraud” case.
According to prosecutors, the alleged offences were committed by using his official position, in the interests of a criminal organization and organized criminal groups. The alleged acts involved particularly large amounts and were committed over an extended period, prosecutors said.
According to evidence gathered by prosecutors, the criminal organization allegedly led by Vladimir Plahotniuc consisted of several organized criminal groups, including a group allegedly led by Ilan Șor.
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Șor controlled, through intermediaries, three banks: Unibank, Banca Socială and Banca de Economii.
Prosecutors allege that in 2014, the defendant, who was then first deputy chairman of Victoriabank’s Management Committee and a member of the bank’s Assets and Liabilities Management Committee, acted in coordination with the bank’s chairman.
According to the prosecution, he allegedly provided the means and instruments needed and removed obstacles to the implementation of a plan to misappropriate funds from Moldova’s state budget and banking system.
Prosecutors further allege that the defendant, acting together with the Victoriabank chairman and using his official position contrary to the bank’s interests, knew that funds placed with Banca de Economii, Unibank and Banca Socială were allegedly due to be withdrawn within days through the formal issuance of loans to legal entities affiliated with and fully controlled by the criminal group allegedly led by Ilan Șor.
According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the defendant was also aware of the precarious financial condition of the three banks and nevertheless provided the necessary instruments and removed obstacles, allegedly enabling the withdrawal of funds and resulting in a debt owed by Banca de Economii to Victoriabank totaling 2,245,548,505 Moldovan lei.
The case has been sent to the Chisinau District Court, Buiucani seat, for examination on the merits.
To secure compensation for the alleged damage and potential special confiscation, prosecutors have placed a seizure on assets owned or beneficially owned by the defendant, with a total value of more than 32.7 million Moldovan lei.
The allegations have yet to be established by a final court ruling.