Former PDM leader Vlad Plahotniuc will face trial in a separate case, split from the “Bank Fraud” case. Judges from the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, issued the decision today.
Lawyer Lucian Rogac criticized the ruling, calling it “a flagrant illegality and an abuse committed by the judges.” He argued: “In January 2024, the same court and the same panel of judges ordered the consolidation of Mr. Vlad Plahotniuc’s case with the other cases. Since then, nothing has changed, but today they issued a completely opposite ruling, even though no legal grounds exist for it.”
Prosecutor Alexandru Cernei described the decision as a success. He stated: “Accepting the request will allow us to examine the case within a reasonable time and without violating the rights of the other defendants in the process.”
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Plahotniuc did not attend today’s hearing. His lawyer explained that he requested a postponement to review the case materials.
Prosecutors target the former Democratic Party leader in four high-profile criminal cases in Moldova, including charges of creating and leading a criminal organization, embezzlement, money laundering, and bank fraud. In the “Bank Fraud” case—the only one that has reached court so far—prosecutors accuse him of benefiting from $39.3 million and €3.5 million taken in 2014 from Banca de Economii, Unibank, and Banca Sociala.