The founding of the airline company FlyOne would have been done with money originating from tax evasion, and nearly 41 million lei would have been concealed and legalized in the Republic of Moldova and abroad. The prosecutors and the State Fiscal Service have opened a criminal case for tax evasion and money laundering. The company’s management denies the accusations, reports IPN.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases, starting from 2016 and up to the present, members of an organized criminal group would have acted in a coordinated manner, with the distribution of roles, using several legal entities and intermediaries to evade the payment of taxes and duties.
The undeclared money, which was not properly reported to the tax authorities, is believed to have been used, among other things, to establish a company in the aviation industry. According to the investigation, nearly 41 million lei were allegedly concealed and laundered both in the Republic of Moldova and abroad. Just for the fiscal year 2016, the undeclared and unpaid tax obligations are estimated at nearly 5 million lei.
The PCCOCS prosecutors and the State Fiscal Service officers, with the support of the INI officers, have conducted searches at offices, residences, and the transport means of the targeted individuals. Accounting documents, money, computing equipment, draft writings, and other materials relevant to the investigation have been seized.
Asked by IPN for a reaction, the president of the FlyOne Administrative Council, Vladimir Cebotari, who is also one of the founders and beneficiaries of the company, rejects the prosecutors’ accusations. “These are absolutely false and undocumented claims”, he stated. According to him, all funds poured into the establishment and development of the company come exclusively from entrepreneurial activities, which have been reported to tax authorities, and the corresponding taxes have been fully calculated and paid. He asserts that he also has confirmations from tax institutions supporting this information.
Vladimir Cebotari also argues that the actions and statements of the prosecutors represent an unsuccessful attempt to justify acts of abuse and intimidation by law enforcement agencies, which he accuses of being used for private interests in the forceful takeover of a profitable business.
The investigations continue to establish all the circumstances and the persons involved.
