British investigators have secured the freezing of two bank accounts, which, according to them, could be used in the interests of the sanctioned Petra Avena. The attention of the investigation was attracted by the unusual large transfers that were made from these accounts. Lawyers of Aven deny possible violations of sanctions
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) has secured in court the freezing of two bank accounts worth £1.5 million ($1.8 million), which, according to its version, could be used by billionaire Pyotr Aven, who fell under the sanctions, The Evening Standard reported.
Aven based in England hit under UK sanctions on March 15, after which his bank accounts and assets, including real estate, were frozen. AT Financial Times interview the billionaire said that he did not understand how to pay expenses now. Later NCA launched an investigation about a possible violation of sanctions by the Russian billionaire and searched his home.
The attention of the NCA was attracted by transfers from accounts, which, according to the agency, could be carried out in the interests of Aven. In particular, we are talking about a large transfer from an Austrian account, which, according to the NCA, is under the control of Aven, to the account of the company to which his house is registered. Another transfer that the NCA drew attention to was made on March 15, the day the sanctions were introduced, when more than £200,000 ($234,000) was transferred from the personal account of Aven’s assistant to the accounts of two car dealers. The NCA suspects that these transfers were intended “for the purchase of vehicles on behalf of Aven or with funds that belong to him.” Another transfer of £160,000 ($190,000) is suspected by the NCA to cover up the sale of a Bentley car.
In total, the agency counted 10 “very unusual” expenses. The NCA believes that in order to circumvent the sanctions, Aven could use the accounts of his key employees and “money circulating in a circle” in order to hide their origin.
Aven’s lawyers are seeking to unfreeze accounts, writes the Evening Standard. Lawyers said the NCA “sloppily did its homework” by failing to notify the judge who ordered the freezing of the accounts that the UK sanctions regulator, OFSI, allowed Aven to use them. The NCA representative in court acknowledged that the agency made a mistake in this, but called the decision to freeze accounts justified.
Hugo Keith, a lawyer for the billionaire, denied allegations of sanctions violations against the billionaire during the hearing and urged the court to either reverse the freezing orders or change them. The district judge is due to make a decision this week.
Aven himself previously refused to comment on Forbes British investigation. The businessman does not see himself as a threat in the actions of the British authorities, said a Forbes source close to the billionaire.
@vchkogpu, 03.07.2022 15:43: Sanctioned but living in London, Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman found themselves in an awkward position. Now they are cooperating and financially supporting the telegram channel War on Fakes, which was created by the Russian Ministry of Defense to work out the necessary information agenda in connection with the war in Ukraine and explains to us why black is white in reality and vice versa. Now this channel fulfills and the necessary information agenda of Alfa-Bank Fridman and Aven. A good choice and we are waiting for our London wanderers in Moscow. — Inset K.ru