In Moldova, oligarch Plahotniuc was sentenced to prison in the "billion-dollar theft" case
In Moldova, a court has sentenced Vlad Plahotniuc, the former leader of the Democratic Party and an oligarch, to 19 years in prison in connection with a massive bank fraud case known as the “billion-dollar heist.”
This was reported by Newsmaker.
On April 22, a court in Chisinau (Buiucani district) found Plahotniuc guilty of complicity in the embezzlement of funds from three Moldovan banks. According to the investigation, he received a portion of the stolen money through entities linked to oligarch Ilan Shor.
The amount in question is approximately $39 million and €3.5 million.
Plahotniuc was not present at the sentencing. The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the verdict itself may be appealed in higher courts.
Moldova’s anti-corruption prosecutor sought a 25-year prison sentence for former Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc in the “billion-dollar theft” case. During the court hearing on March 23, 2026, at the Buiucani District Court in Chisinau, the prosecution requested the maximum prison term for five counts in the case.
Greece has approved the extradition of oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc to Moldova.
In Moldova, a court found former Democratic Party MP and ally of oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, Constantin Tsutsa, guilty in a case of illicit enrichment. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
