{"id":1802,"date":"2019-10-14T12:50:37","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T10:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/?p=1802"},"modified":"2019-10-14T15:21:36","modified_gmt":"2019-10-14T13:21:36","slug":"fugitive-oligarch-wanted-in-moldovas-theft-of-the-century-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/fugitive-oligarch-wanted-in-moldovas-theft-of-the-century-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Fugitive Oligarch Wanted in Moldova\u2019s \u201cTheft of the Century\u201d Case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Since its formation in June, Moldova\u2019s coalition Government has represented an unlikely union between pro-E.U. and pro-Russian parties. But with an anti-oligarch stance holding the alliance together, the Government under Prime Minister Maia Sandu has been determined to crackdown on corruption \u2013 and the recovery of the billion in funds stolen during a 2014 bank fraud scheme has now become its top priority for Europe\u2019s poorest country.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-facebook aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-facebook\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HromadskeInternational\/videos\/1952547048106462\/?v=1952547048106462\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A turning point in the investigation appeared on October 11, 2019, when a Chi\u0219in\u0103u court issued an arrest warrant for one of the main beneficiaries of the scam: the country\u2019s richest oligarch and former Democratic Party (PDM) leader, Vlad Plahotniuc. But now that he\u2019s facing large-scale money laundering charges, he has all the more reason to remain in hiding abroad.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2014 loan scheme gutted the country\u2019s banking system, robbing Moldova of 12 percent of its GDP and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. And Plahotniuc isn\u2019t the only high-profile individual incriminated in the case. According to independent American investigative company, Kroll, businessman and politician Ilan Shor and former Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat are both involved as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Filat has been in prison on charges connected to the \u201ctheft of the century\u201d since 2016, Shor, like Plahotniuc, managed to flee the country. And while there have been some previous attempts to go after the perpetrators\u2019 holdings, delays in the investigation have given them plenty of time to clean up their assets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7O9A0180-840x420.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7O9A0180-840x420.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7O9A0180-840x420-350x175.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7O9A0180-840x420-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption>Vlad Filat, former Prime Minister accused in the Billion Case<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/uncategorized\/justice-in-the-post-kroll-era-case-study-vlad-plahotniuc-and-ilan-shor\"><strong>Justice in the Post-Kroll Era. Case Study: Vlad Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While the new Parliament set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the bank fraud in June, few criminal cases have been opened until now. And with the main beneficiaries of the scam in hiding abroad, the country has been forced to go after smaller players.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"711\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Alexandru-Slusari.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Alexandru-Slusari.png 711w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Alexandru-Slusari-350x196.png 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Alexandru-Slusari-260x145.png 260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px\" \/><figcaption>Alexandru Slusari, President of the <br>Commission of Inquiry set to investigate the Billion Case<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ziarul de Gard\u0103 breaks down Moldova\u2019s investigation into the \u201ctheft of the century.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>Backstory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In January 2015, the Moldovan Government hired the Kroll company to carry out an independent investigation into a large-scale banking scheme. The company filed its first report in May of that year, and the Moldovan Parliamentary Speaker Adrian Candu <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rferl.org\/a\/moldova-banks-audit-links-missing-billion-to-businessman\/26996371.html\">leaked<\/a> it to the press.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kroll Report revealed to the public that from November 24 to 26, 2014, approximately $1 billion was stolen through three Moldovan banks. Banca de Economii (BEM), Banca Social\u0103 and Unibank were accused of illegally transferring massive sums to companies connected to Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor, through fraudulent loans made out to companies within the Shor Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"275\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1-740x275.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1806\" data-link=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/?attachment_id=1806\" class=\"wp-image-1806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1-740x275.png 740w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1-740x275-350x130.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"636\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1807\" data-link=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/?attachment_id=1807\" class=\"wp-image-1807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2.png 636w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2-350x248.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Captura\u0306-de-ecran-din-2019.07.04-la-20.58.26-768x519-740x500.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1808\" data-link=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/?attachment_id=1808\" class=\"wp-image-1808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Captura\u0306-de-ecran-din-2019.07.04-la-20.58.26-768x519-740x500.png 740w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Captura\u0306-de-ecran-din-2019.07.04-la-20.58.26-768x519-740x500-350x236.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Around the same time, investigative journalists from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.occrp.org\/en\/investigations\/4203-grand-theft-moldova\">Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rise.md\/english\/laundromat-two-huge-scams-one-moldovan-businessman\/\">Rise Moldova<\/a> uncovered that Shor\u2019s companies were also linked to the largest money laundering case in Eastern Europe\u2019s history: the so-called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.hromadske.ua\/posts\/the-russian-laundromat-examined\">Russian Laundromat<\/a>.\u201d Running parallel to the \u201ctheft of the century,\u201d this scheme saw a fourth Moldovan bank, Moldindconbank, use similar methods to route $20.8 billion in Russian money through its accounts to countries overseas.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtubewrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Grand Theft Moldova\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KxsylnDO15w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To compensate for the stolen funds, Moldova\u2019s government issued a $900 million bailout for the three banks involved, made up of two emergency credits taken from the National Bank\u2019s reserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/editorial\/reading-the-kroll-2-report\"><strong>Reading the Kroll 2 Report<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/exclusive\/doc-latest-update-the-kroll-2-report-is-published\"><strong>DOC \/ Latest update: The Kroll 2 report is published<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kroll Company issued a second report to Moldova\u2019s government in March 2018, but the Democratic Party (PDM) Government \u2013 under the leadership of Vlad Plahotniuc \u2013 kept the document secret because of who was implicated in the fraud. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/user\/465596099\/UNIMEDIA#from_embed\">report<\/a> was not made public until July 4, 2019, weeks after the ouster of the PDM Government and the establishment of the new governing coalition.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/plahotniuc-840x420.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/plahotniuc-840x420.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/plahotniuc-840x420-350x175.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/plahotniuc-840x420-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption>Vladimir Plahotniuc, former leader of the Democratic Party<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kroll-2 Report exposed 77 Shor Group companies that had benefited from fraudulent loans and implicated Plahotniuc and ex-Prime Minister Vlad Filat, linking them and Shor to $25 million each, either directly or through their companies and affiliates.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Alexandru Slusari, the chairman of the Parliament\u2019s Commission of Inquiry charged with investigating the bank fraud, he received a partial list of people named in the Kroll-2 Report on September 20, 2019. The document confirmed the main beneficiaries of the bank fraud, as well as several less well-known individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/political\/plahotniuc-named-the-main-beneficiary-of-the-stolen-billion-among-others\"><strong>Who Are the Main Beneficiaries of the Stolen Billion?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe document states that Vlad Plahotniuc and his companies are the main beneficiaries of the theft. Vlad Filat\u2019s group comes up next. There is also mention of the amounts they benefited from. The names of Ilan Shor, Ilona Shor, Marina Tauber, Reghina Apostolova, Vadim Fotescu, and Gabriel Stati are also reported on the list. Furthermore, companies affiliated with Plahotniuc appear in the document. Olga Bondarciuc\u2019s name is featured repeatedly, with links to both Plahotniuc and Shor,\u201d Slusari reported.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Ilan-S\u0326or-s\u0326i-Reghina-Apostolova-foto-facebook.compartidulshor-840x420.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Ilan-S\u0326or-s\u0326i-Reghina-Apostolova-foto-facebook.compartidulshor-840x420.png 840w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Ilan-S\u0326or-s\u0326i-Reghina-Apostolova-foto-facebook.compartidulshor-840x420-350x175.png 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Ilan-S\u0326or-s\u0326i-Reghina-Apostolova-foto-facebook.compartidulshor-840x420-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption>Reghina Apostolova and Ilan Shor<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the fraud was initially thought to have just involved the stolen billion dollars, Kroll-2 reported that the banks had given out a total of $2.9&nbsp; billion in fraudulent loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>Going After Plahotniuc<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Plahotniuc\u2019s PDM Government on the outs and Shor\u2019s companies deeply embedded in the fraud scheme, both men fled the country. Meanwhile, Filat was already behind bars.&nbsp; He was found guilty of \u201cpassive corruption\u201d and \u201cinfluence peddling\u201d in June 2016 and sentenced to nine years in prison.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In June 2017, Shor received seven years and six months imprisonment for fraud and money laundering but the sentence didn\u2019t enter into force until July 16, 2019. Meanwhile, Shor had already fled the country illegally \u2013 reportedly bypassing border controls at Chi\u0219in\u0103u International Airport sometime between June 14 and 17.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/political\/poll-shor-fled-moldova-who-helped-him\"><strong>POLL \/ Shor Fled Moldova. Who Helped Him?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While the Moldovan authorities were able to work with existing criminal cases against Vlad Filat and Ilan Shor, going after the country\u2019s biggest oligarch was a different story. Like Shor, Plahotniuc fled the country after the PDM Government fell, sparking speculation about where he was hiding abroad.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the latest court decision reveals some details about how exactly the fugitive oligarch could be implicated in the case. On October 11, 2019, a Chi\u0219in\u0103u court issued a 30-day arrest warrant for Plahotniuc and the oigarch\u2019s lawyer, Vladislav Ro\u0219ca, confirmed that he is now wanted for large-scale money laundering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rosca-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rosca-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rosca-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rosca-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Vladislav Ro\u0219ca, Plahotniuc&#8217;s lawyer<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/political\/moldova-announces-national-search-for-fugitive-oligarch-plahotniuc\"><strong>Moldova Announces National Search For Fugitive Oligarch, Plahotniuc<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAccording to the case files, from 2013 to 2015 citizen Vladimir Plahotniuc established a criminal scheme for conversion, transfer, acquisition, possession and use of certain goods that he definitely knew constitute illegal income,\u201d the Anticorruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office noted.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To hide the illegal nature of these transactions, Plahotniuc allegedly created a number of domestic and foreign companies through intermediaries, which allowed him to circulate and thus launder vast sums of money. This reportedly includes up to $18 million and \u20ac3.5 million.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The case materials allegedly show that Plahotniuc knew these sums were obtained through illicit loans from Banca de Economii (BEM), Banca Sociala and Unibank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/colaj-BEM-BS-Un-agora-e1509953352986-840x420.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/colaj-BEM-BS-Un-agora-e1509953352986-840x420.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/colaj-BEM-BS-Un-agora-e1509953352986-840x420-350x175.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/colaj-BEM-BS-Un-agora-e1509953352986-840x420-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Two other people were implicated in the case, one of whom \u2013 a less well known accomplice by the name of Victor Gammer \u2013&nbsp; was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/ru\/?p=31055\">detained<\/a> for 30 days on October 10, 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>Theft\u2019s Roots Run Deep Into Political Elite<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On September 16, 2019, Moldova\u2019s Parliament voted in favour of lifting the immunity of Shor Party deputies Marina Tauber and Reghina Apostolova, whose names also appeared as beneficiaries of the bank fraud in the Kroll Report.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is evidence that, since August 17, 2012 deputies Marina Tauber and Reghina Apostolova have been actively involved in the devaluation of the bank. Marina Tauber, being a shareholder at Unibank, created favorable conditions for Ilan Shor to be able to devalue the bank. Thus, the two deputies participated actively in the bank fraud,\u201d said the interim Prosecutor General Dumitru Robu during the Parliamentary plenary.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tauber-apostolova-840x420.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tauber-apostolova-840x420.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tauber-apostolova-840x420-350x175.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tauber-apostolova-840x420-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption>Reghina Apostolova and Marina Tauber<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/investigative\/criminal-cases-of-public-interest-during-the-governments-first-100-days?utm_source=organizatii+straine&amp;utm_campaign=c1860e61d9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_23_12_50&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_2844804c50-c1860e61d9-278179325\"><strong>Criminal Cases of Public Interest during the Government\u2019s First 100 Days<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/news\/national-anticorruption-center-carries-out-searches-in-the-bank-fraud-case?utm_source=organizatii+straine&amp;utm_campaign=c1860e61d9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_23_12_50&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_2844804c50-c1860e61d9-278179325\"><strong>National Anticorruption Center Carries Out Searches in the Bank Fraud Case<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Between September 16 and 17, Moldova\u2019s Anticorruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office and National Anticorruption Center carried out 21 searches in relation to the bank fraud case. The searches targeted the homes and offices of several individuals involved in the criminal case, including Tauber and Apostolova, who were detained.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Anticorruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office, the authorities also searched the home of Vladimir Novosadiuc \u2013 the Moldova Director of the Russian news portal Sputnik.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both he and his partner, Rita \u021avic, were listed among the beneficiaries of the banking scheme in the Kroll Report, as shareholders at Unibank, who borrowed over 600,000 euros from the off-shore company Harrogate Consulting LLP.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/544-shor-tv.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/544-shor-tv.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/544-shor-tv-350x274.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption>Vladimir Novosadiuc, Ilan Shor and Rita \u021avic<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The ongoing investigation has also revealed ties between a company benefiting from fraudulent BEM loans and Alexei Grecean\u00eei \u2013 who is married to the President of Moldova\u2019s Parliament, Zinaida Grecean\u00eei. Accusations regarding the Grecean\u00eei family\u2019s involvement in the fraud have been circulating for years, but re-emerged after Zinaida Grecean\u00eei became the country\u2019s Parliamentary President in June 2019.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/zdg.md\/eng\/investigative\/family-members-of-moldovas-head-of-parliament-implicated-in-the-billion-case\"><strong>Family Members of Moldova\u2019s Head of Parliament Affiliated with Companies Investigated in the Billion Case<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The company in question, Alsvit-Vin (formerly Alsvit-Print), took out a \u20ac2 million loan from BEM on March 4, 2011, but according to the Kroll reports, this loan was never repaid.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grecean\u00eei\u2019s husband became involved in managing the company for a three month period from April to July 2011, but according to the Anticorruption Center was not involved in the contracting the loan.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt this stage of the investigations Alexei Grecean\u00eeii\u2019s involvement in contracting the loan of around \u20ac2 million (39.3 million lei) from Banca de Economii has not been established,\u201d Moldova\u2019s National Anticorruption Center told Ziarul de Gard\u0103.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Commission of Inquiry\u2019s full investigative report on fraud in the Moldovan banking system is set to be released on October 15, 2019. According to Slusari, this will allow the members of the Commission to request the declassification of all materials related to the case of the stolen billion.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\/Adapted by Eilish Hart, using materials from Ziarul de Gard\u0103. Courtesy of the Russian Language News Exchange.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since its formation in June, Moldova\u2019s coalition Government has represented an unlikely union between pro-E.U. and pro-Russian parties. But with an anti-oligarch stance holding the alliance together, the Government under Prime Minister Maia Sandu has been determined to crackdown on corruption \u2013 and the recovery of the billion in funds stolen during a 2014 bank&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1803,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,3,10],"tags":[],"autor":[],"class_list":["post-1802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive","category-investigations","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Fugitive Oligarch Wanted in Moldova\u2019s \u201cTheft of the Century\u201d Case - Ziarul de Gard\u0103<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/fugitive-oligarch-wanted-in-moldovas-theft-of-the-century-case\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fugitive Oligarch Wanted in Moldova\u2019s \u201cTheft of the Century\u201d Case - Ziarul de Gard\u0103\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Since its formation in June, Moldova\u2019s coalition Government has represented an unlikely union between pro-E.U. and pro-Russian parties. 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