A Moldovan oligarch known for his vast wealth and political connections has found himself back in the headlines, this time in a London courtroom.
Veaceslav Platon, 52, is accused of masterminding a money laundering scheme that allegedly moved billions of Russian funds across Europe and the United States.
Allegations of Billions in Criminal Cash
Platon, a former Moldovan MP, faces charges at home for corruption, money laundering, and circulating counterfeit money or securities.
Investigators claim that the laundered funds—estimated between £16 billion and £65 billion—were funneled into businesses, luxury real estate in London, and extravagant goods in wealthy countries.
Arrests and Controversial Trials
Platon was first detained in Ukraine in 2016 and quickly extradited to Moldova on a jet reportedly used by the country’s former president.
Initially sentenced to 25 years after closed-door trials, he was later controversially acquitted and released, raising questions about the political motivations behind his prosecution.
Political Asylum and UK Arrest
After arriving in the UK in July 2021, Platon sought political asylum, claiming ill treatment in Moldovan prisons.
However, a fresh extradition request from Moldova led to his re-arrest at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June 2025.
He is currently on bail, residing in a multimillion-pound Canary Wharf apartment while awaiting his full extradition hearing, scheduled for April or May next year.
Court Appearance and Legal Team Statements
Platon appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accompanied by a Russian interpreter and his cousin Marina Marohina, 35, who faces charges related to defrauding Moldinconbank of approximately $279,000.
Platon’s lawyer, James Stansfield, described the charges as “politically motivated” and highlighted his client’s high-profile status in Moldova, emphasizing previous extradition and release incidents.
Hannah Hinton, representing Marohina, noted that expert evidence is still being reviewed, and the Moldovan government has yet to respond to several key reports.
The court adjourned while awaiting additional information to proceed.
Wealth, Business, and International Scrutiny
Platon is considered one of Moldova’s wealthiest figures, with business interests spanning sugar, banking, and atomic energy in Ukraine.
He also reportedly holds Russian citizenship and is wanted there for allegedly illegally withdrawing hundreds of millions of pounds.
In 2023, a Moscow court sentenced him in absentia to 20 years in prison for these offenses.
Conditional Bail and Future Proceedings
Both Platon and Marohina were released on conditional bail pending their full extradition hearings.
Authorities in Moldova have either seized or frozen Platon’s assets, though he has managed to fund his legal defense through negotiated loans.
The upcoming hearings are expected to address both the extradition request and the complex financial allegations surrounding the oligarch.