{"id":2925,"date":"2020-04-27T15:27:05","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T12:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zdg.md\/en\/?p=2925"},"modified":"2020-04-27T15:27:05","modified_gmt":"2020-04-27T12:27:05","slug":"the-prosecutors-lift-the-seizure-on-one-of-the-companies-investigated-in-the-billion-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/the-prosecutors-lift-the-seizure-on-one-of-the-companies-investigated-in-the-billion-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"The Prosecutors Lift the Seizure on one of the Companies Investigated in the Billion Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Five months ago, the prosecutors seized the assets of the three companies related to a large money laundering case involving Moldova\u2019s tycoon, Vladimir Plahotniuc. In February 2020, ZdG noticed that the prosecutor lifted the seizure on one of the three companies. When we inquired the General Prosecutor\u2019s Office spokesperson, we were told that the restrictions were lifted at the request of the company\u2019s administrator.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziarul de Gard\u0103 found out that in February 2020, prosecutor Alexei Cernei lifted the assets forfeiture over some operating accounts of the Bass-System company, one of the most important IT companies in Moldova. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2019, the prosecutors seized the company\u2019s assets as part of the large money laundering cases involving Vladimir Plahotniuc, former leader of the Democratic Party. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to find more information, ZdG spoke with the spokesperson of the General Prosecutor’s Office, Maria Vieru. The spokesperson claimed that the restrictions were canceled at the request of the company’s administrator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the request of the Bass-Systems company manager we\u2019ve canceled the assets forfeiture to unlock the business. Also prior to the beginning of the criminal investigation, the company signed a pre-contract agreement with an Austrian investor. Therefore, we had to allow the completion of the sale and purchase of shares,\u201d Vieru informed us.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Prosecution is Ongoing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Currently, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General representative, the seizure applied five months ago to the accounts of Bass-Systems company is in force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The criminal investigation is ongoing. We sent several requests for international legal assistance. And after receiving the results the decision will be taken,” Maria Vieru pointed out.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Contacted by ZdG, Alexandru Cernei, the prosecutor handling the case, avoided speaking stating that there is nothing new in the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bass-Systems, Taken Over by an Austrian Group in August 2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fifty-one percent of the statutory capital of Bass-Systems was sold in August 2019. The S&T AG Austrian company took over the Bass-System company\u2019s assets. The S&T AG is one of the leading providers of IT services and solutions in Central and Eastern Europe. The value of the transaction was \u20ac5.74 million. The other 49 percent of the company’s capital officially belongs to the Romanian citizen, Onisim Popescu,<\/a> who is also the official administrator of the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2019, Bass-Systems company had an official share capital of around 150,000 euros (2.95 million lei). The 150,000 euros official share capital was owned by Assentis Holdings company from Cyprus with 72 percent and Onisim Popescu. Now, Popescu owns 49 percent of the company. <\/a>The transaction took place two months after Plahotniuc, left Moldova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 30, 2019, the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had seized assets and bank accounts, amounting to \u20ac2.8 million (55.4 million lei). The prosecutors seized the assets related to the cases for money laundering in particularly large proportions, in which Plahotniuc is involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although, Plahotniuc’s name does not appear officially in any register of activity of the three companies<\/strong> , the head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, Viorel Morari, claims that the Moldovan authorities received information from foreign authorities proving the connection between the three companies and Plahotniuc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office seized three companies<\/strong>, in criminal cases started for money laundering in particularly large proportions, in which the country\u2019s tycoon Plahotniuc, is investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n