​VEACESLAV PLATON DETAINED IN KIEV

Police confirmed the fact that Ukrainian Security Service and the Prosecution System officers detained Moldovan businessman Veaceslav Platon in Ukraine on Monday evening on suspicion of involvement in money stealing from the Moldovan banking system.

On Monday, the Moldovan Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) declared Platon internationally wanted. The PGO explained this by his direct involvement and coordination of money stealing from Banca de Economii (BEM). He is suspected of receiving and failure to return credits with total worth of 800 million lei (about US$20 million). Before, press was writing that Platon was one of the main coordinators of the process of withdrawing tens of millions of dollars from Russia into offshore accounts through Moldovan banks.

Head of the Anticorruption Prosecution Viorel Morari said to journalists that yesterday searches were conducted in five companies, at their administrators as well as commercial banks Victoriabank, Moldindconbank (MICB), Moldova Agroindbank (MAIB) and in the ASITO insurance company. It is about receiving by Platon the unsecured loans, repaid at the expense of the Banca de Economii funds. Also, after the searches, two people were arrested – MICB Deputy Chief Accountant Alla Gashenko and former Bank Board Deputy Representative Vitalie Groza.

“Two more people were heard by the prosecutor. The investigation still has to establish identities of two people, who were administrators of companies that got unsecured loans”, Morari said.

Viorel Morari also added that currently, prosecutors are seeking the opportunity to arrest 43% MAIB shares, blocked by the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), as state securities were bought at the expense of money, stolen from BEM.

After Platon was declared internationally wanted, while his photo appeared in a corresponding rubric at the Moldovan Interior Ministry’s website, the Ukrainian Security Service jointly with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office announced about the detention of a citizen of Moldova and Russia in Kiev.

It is said that the suspect was detained in accordance with the code of criminal procedure for arresting and subsequent extradition to Moldova for being criminally prosecuted for money laundering and fraud in banking sphere. The PGO said that the detainee is being investigated for his implication in offences in the territory of Ukraine. His name is not disclosed, but it is obvious that it is Platon. The Moldovan PGO already announced about the starting of procedure of Platon’s extradition to his home country.