UK National Crime Agency (NCA) delayed “wealthy Russian businessman” on suspicion of money laundering.
Edition “Ukrainian Truth” citing his sources, claims that we are talking about a billionaire, co-founder of Alfa-Bank and owner of the Letter One group Mikhail Fridman. The fact that we are talking about Friedman was reported by agency TASS with reference to a source in his environment.
It is alleged that the businessman was released on bail.
TASS, 03.12.2022, “The reason for the detention of Fridman in London was the suspicion of violating sanctions”: The reason for the detention of Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman in London was suspicion of violating the sanctions imposed on him. This was reported to TASS on Saturday by a source.
“Friedman was detained due to suspicions of violating the sanctions imposed on him,” the source said. He was released on bail. In May reported on the initiation of a criminal case in the UK against a Russian businessman Petra Avena under the article on violation of sanctions. — Inset K.ru
In the press service of Alfa-Bank Kommersant was toldthat Friedman is at home, and not under arrest, and noted that they do not know who exactly was detained.
The NCA’s report on the arrest did not mention the businessman’s name. However, his age – 58 years – As noted by the publication “Agency”, coincides with Friedman’s age. The businessman lives in London.
@vchkogpu, 04.12.2022 03:07: Mikhail Fridman’s mansion in London Athlone House. It was in it that Fridman himself was detained on December 1 (then he was released on bail). Near the mansion, they took an employee of Athlone House, who carried thousands of pounds of the oligarch in a bag. This money was intended for the maintenance of servants, premises and other luxurious life of Friedman and was hidden from the authorities. By court decision, Friedman is limited in his spending, so he is forced to pay in cash on the sly. — Inset K.ru
In addition to money laundering, the Russian is also suspected of conspiracy to deceive the British Home Office and conspiracy to give false testimony. He was detained on December 1 at his home in London. During a search of his home, several digital devices and a large amount of cash were seized. The NCA said two other people were detained in the same case. One of them, aged 35, an employee of a “wealthy businessman”, was detained as he left his home with a bag containing thousands of pounds in cash. The second – he is 39 years old – according to the police, is the former boyfriend of the businessman’s current partner.
agents.media, 12/04/2022, “Friedman’s detention in London was based on suspicions of violating imposed sanctions”: British law enforcers likely seized tens of thousands of pounds during Saturday’s arrest of a “wealthy Russian businessman”. It is reported by CNN, citing a source close to the investigation.
Details. According to him, the exact amount of seized banknotes is not yet known, however, according to preliminary estimates, we are talking about tens of thousands of British pounds. He also clarified the data on two men detained along with a businessman: this is a 35-year-old citizen of Poland and a 39-year-old citizen of Russia, Israel and the UK. […] All three detainees were released on bail. — Inset K.ru
About 50 NCA employees took part in the arrest operation. All three detainees have now been released on bail.
The agency said in a statement that this operation is the latest in a series of NCA operations aimed at stopping the activities of corrupt representatives of international business and their accomplices. The specific content of the charges is not reported.
TASS, citing a source close to Fridman, reported that the businessman was detained on suspicion of violating the sanctions imposed on him.
The Russian Embassy in London said it “demanded the British authorities to immediately notify the reasons and circumstances of the detention” of the Russian businessman. In his message, the name of the businessman is also not mentioned.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU and then the UK introduced against Friedman sanctions. The businessman complained that the blocking of his accounts prevented him from even serving household needs. Friedman, like a number of other businessmen, has challenged the sanctions, arguing that they have no influence on Vladimir Putin’s policies.
Friedman also offered to pay $1 billion of his personal funds to Ukrainian Alfa-Bank to finance projects in Ukraine related to infrastructure, healthcare, food and energy security. The purpose of this proposal according to the Wall Street Journalwas the lifting of sanctions previously imposed on Friedman by Great Britain.