Moldovan oligarch extradited to face charges over $1bn fraud

"Moldova's most notorious fugitive businessman, Vladimir Plahotniuc, has been extradited from Greece to face trial over the country's biggest financial scandal, AFP and local media reported. The 59-year-old oligarch, accused of orchestrating the disappearance of $1bn from Moldovan banks in 2014, arrived in Chisinau on Thursday under tight security. The fraud, known locally as the theft of the century, amounted to about 12 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) at the time."

"Plahotniuc was detained in July at Athens airport on an Interpol red notice while attempting to travel to Dubai, Greek authorities said. He had been held in Greece for two months before being handed over to Moldovan officials. Once considered the most powerful figure in the Democratic Party of Moldova, Plahotniuc has long denied wrongdoing and resisted extradition. He is expected to appear in court in Chisinau on September 26."

Vladimir Plahotniuc was extradited from Greece to Moldova to face trial over a 2014 bank fraud that removed about $1bn, roughly 12% of GDP. He arrived under tight security after being detained in July at Athens airport on an Interpol red notice while trying to travel to Dubai and spent two months in Greek custody before handover. He fled Moldova in 2019 amid investigations, had a US asylum request rejected and US visa revoked in 2020, and faces sanctions from the EU, US and UK. He is expected in court on September 26 ahead of parliamentary elections on September 28 when concerns about Russian influence are heightened.

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