Russian oligarch is served notice of suspicion of money laundering

The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) has served a notice of suspicion on Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman over the possible legalisation of UAH 100 million [approx. US$2.7 million - ed.].

Source: Press service of Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine 

Details: The ESBU’s report does not specify the name of the person involved in the case, but it is noted that he owned a third of the bank nationalised in July and also has Russian and Israeli citizenship. The only person who fits this description is Michail Friedman.

Friedman is suspected of legalising (laundering) property obtained by criminal means in the amounts of €1.2 million and €1.93 million [about UAH 100 million in equivalent - ed.], committed by an organised group of individuals and deliberate tax evasion in the amount of UAH 18 million [approx. US$48,749 - ed.] by officials of Sens Bank (formerly Alfa–Bank Ukraine, now state-owned).

In the near future, the ESBU, together with the Prosecutor General's Office, will send a request for international legal assistance to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to serve the oligarch with a written notice of suspicion and a request for a preventive measure.

Background: In general, law enforcement officers have collected a number of criminal proceedings and various episodes related to Alfa-Bank Ukraine (now the state-owned Sens Bank) and Fridman directly. In early June, 738 real estate properties owned by the bank were seized.

Back in April last year, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine exposed Fridman's attempt to legalise and withdraw UAH 1.1 billion [approx.  US$29. 79 million - ed.] from Ukraine through Alfa-Bank Ukraine and its former Cypriot owners, ABH Holdings S.A and ABH Ukraine Limited. Then the ESBU said that the scheme had been implemented in advance to avoid negative consequences in the form of sanctions or nationalisation.

In May, the court imposed asset arrests on the Cypriot companies of oligarch Mikhail Fridman totalling more than UAH 12.4 billion [approx. US$335.8 million - ed.]. Through these companies, Fridman and his business own Alfa Bank.

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