The Interpol office in Paris has issued a warrant for the arrest of the former Moldovan prime minister Vlad Filat, who in France was sentenced for corruption – two years in prison.
The information spread directly through reports in Ukrainian media, and official sources confirm the arrest warrant.
The General Inspector of Moldova’s Police clarified that the corresponding arrest warrant request was filed on December 26.
The Constitution of Moldova prohibits extradition and expulsion of its own citizens.
As part of the Filat case, he and his former wife, through a string of companies and intermediaries, bought several real estate properties in France between 2012 and 2014, including in the Haute-Savoie region. According to investigators, the money originated from a Canadian company that, in 2011, won the contract to manage Moldova’s National Lottery, when Filat headed the government.
“it was shown that he concealed the origin of money obtained, according to the court’s version, as a result of corruption during the period when he led the government and was supposed to act for the public good”
– Court ruling
Filat was not present at the court session, so the court issued an arrest warrant for him and imposed a fine of €100,000. His former wife was sentenced to 18 months’ suspended sentence and fined €150,000.
The court also ordered both to pay Moldova €10,000 in moral damages.
Filat, who heads Moldova’s Liberal Democratic Party, called the decision “politically motivated” and said he would appeal.
Context and Reaction
Earlier this week, Moldovan courts sentenced to four years in prison the former secretary of the territorial branch of the Shor party for involvement in illegal financing of the party.