Russian General Prosecutor’s Office yesterday unveiled new charges against fugitive billionaire Boris Berezovsky, accusing him of embezzling $13 million (BD5m) from the SBS-Agro Bank in 1997. Berezovsky lives currently in London, he is wanted in Russia on various charges of fraud.
The Chief Prosecutor's Office sent an application about distant arrest of Berezovsky. Basmanny District Court received a letter about preventive punishment from the Chief Prosecutor's Office and attached some properties of the tycoon in France. A trial is scheduled on August 7.
As it became known to the daily Gazeta, one of the figurants of this criminal case is Sibneft’s former president Eugene Shvidler. In materials of the case he is defined as member of a criminal group.
According to the lawyer of Boris Berezovsky, Andrew Borovkov, his client is accused of forming in 1997 a criminal group in order to take in SBS-Agro Bank a $13 mln credit. “Money was received supposedly to deposit it in authorized capital of a firm headed by Eugene Shvidler (former president of Sibneft and currently chairman of Millhouse, LLC, a company that manages assets of Roman Abramovich” – Gazeta), explained Semen Aria.
The investigation reckons, that in fact the money has been spent on purchase of two comfortable villas in the South of France called the chateau of La Garoupe and neighbouring Clocher de la Garoupe. Both estates situated on the Côte d'Azur are considered to be one of the most luxurious in this part of the country.
In 2002 the Prosecution of Marseilles has been already inquired about owners of these estates. In May 2005 in the chateau of La Garoupe there were even a search, Berezovsky at the moment was in London though.
According to the investigation, besides Berezovsky and Shvidler there were two more members of the criminal group, that is Swiss financier Hans-Peter Jenni (being a manager of Andava, he has been already mentioned in the case of Aeroflot), and some Berth of France.
Although Shvidler in one of the suspects, Gzt.ru reported, there is no certainty that he has been presented with charges. In Millhouse Capital, they refused to comment on any investigating actions against the chief.
Similar to Berezovsky, Shvidler is currently in London, where he has a villa in a district of Belgravia.
