First hearing in the second file addressed to Vlad Filat, which the ex-PM was charged with money laundering, was postponed.

According to his lawyer, one of the three judges who were to examine the case had abstained, so the case was assigned to another magistrate. The reason for this position was not announced.

Vlad Filat, who is currently serving his sentence in Prison 13 in the capital, was not brought to Chişinău Court.

"He was not escorted as a result of these changes that intervened yesterday. I understand that the Penitentiary Administration was called not to escort him while the hearing is believed not to take place", said Victor Munteanu, lawyer.

The next meeting was scheduled for 6 February. Vlad Filat's defender argues that he will be present at the trial.

According to prosecutors, in 2013, Vlad Filat tried to hide certain payments with money from corruption.

The then LDPM leader would have transferred 13 million lei, stolen from Banca de Economii to the accounts of a US PR company.

Prosecutors state that an intermediary has been used to delete the traces of transfers. The US authorities confirmed the transfers to the company that provided the liberal-democrat promotion services.

Moreover, the investigation has evidence to prove that Filat obtained money from the Banca de Economii through influence trafficking.

If it is found guilty, the former prime minister still risks ten years of jail. Vlad Filat was detained in October 2015 and sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of corruption and trafficking.