Sandu: Not for a Second Do I Believe Plahotniuc Has Surrendered – He Still Has Plans

According to the head of state, Plahotniuc did not surrender voluntarily and may try to use corruption schemes to avoid punishment. The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, commented in an interview on the extradition of Vladimir Plahotniuc, who was brought to Chisinau from Greece in handcuffs. The head of state said she does not believe the oligarch “surrendered on his own” and warned that he may attempt to bribe people in order to avoid justice, stiri.md reports. In an interview with Dorin Galben, Maia Sandu stated: “It is best not to elaborate too much on this topic, because judicial decisions lie ahead, and any statement by the authorities could be used by the lawyers against the prosecution.” “What does it mean – surrendered on his own? What does it mean – that someone wants to go to prison? He was hiding for six years, and I do not believe for a second that he wanted to be arrested of his own accord. I think he is making plans to try to bribe someone. It is best not to go into details, because the court will make the decisions, and any word from the authorities could be used by the defense against the prosecution,” Maia Sandu stressed. Speaking about the disputes between the Moldovan authorities and Plahotniuc’s lawyers, the president noted that it was the negotiations between Chisinau and Athens that led to his extradition.