Peters & Peters successfully secured Mr Platon’s release on bail following a series of hotly contested hearings before Senior District Judge Goldspring at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.  Mr Platon is accused in Moldova of fraud, money laundering and related offences.  He is resisting extradition on the basis that his prosecution is politically motivated, extradition would be in breach of his human rights, and the request is deficient in multiple ways.  A full hearing is set for November 2025.

The CPS had opposed bail throughout the proceedings, and the Moldovan authorities have repeatedly referred approvingly to Mr Platon’s detention in the media and their domestic political discourse. In his decision granting bail, SDJ Goldspring criticised Moldova’s conduct, referring to the “extraordinary approach” taken by the judicial authority and describing CPS submissions as “a quantum leap from the evidence.”

The CPS sought immediately to appeal the grant of bail to the High Court, which must be done within 2 hours of the original decision.  However, following urgent submissions by Mr Platon’s counsel, James Stansfeld of Matrix Chambers, the CPS conceded that the notice was defective and that the time limit for serving a valid notice of appeal had since expired.  SDJ Goldspring confirmed that he was required to treat the appeal as disposed of, stating: “The court and/or the respondent cannot choose which rules they do or do not comply with… defective notice is no notice at all.”

The decision follows three detailed hearings, which included live witness testimony and substantial legal argument. Mr Platon has expressed satisfaction with the outcome and will continue to contest the extradition proceedings.

Mr Platon is represented by Nick Vamos, Head of Business Crime and Investigations and Senior Associate, Kerri McGuigan.