Filenews 20 May 2022 - by Fanis Makridis
Cyprus is presented as the epicentre of alleged fraud against a Russian billionaire of Israeli origin and even for the exorbitant sum of 600 million dollars. The complainant in this unprecedented case is the 70-year-old well-known businessman Arkadi Gaidamak.
Through his lawyers he allegedly claims that a person of his trust deceived him by transferring to a bank account on our island the disputed exorbitant sum of about €570 million.
The day before yesterday, in fact, his lawyer Neir Jaslovic, as he states, went to the Police Headquarters and filed an official complaint against the person in question, who allegedly has Cypriot citizenship, without giving further details about him.
Mr Jaslovic argued in public statements that the complaint he made last Wednesday was accompanied by evidence and documents.
The alleged offence, according to Gaidamak's positions, was planned in Luxembourg, but no further details have been given on how it was carried out.
Reports want the businessman to have made complaints in connection with the case and to the Luxembourg authorities, but also to those of Israel.
The Russian businessman's claims have taken on dimensions in the last 24 hours, as a report was broadcast in a news bulletin of Israel's popular TV station, Channel 12. This was followed by republishings on Israeli websites, as well as a Russian-speaking website.
What was transmitted
Two news websites in the neighbouring country make extensive reference to the case. The site "MAKO", which republishes Channel 12's television reports, notes, among other things: "The Russian-Jewish businessman Arkadi Gaidamak complained to the Cyprus Police that he was deceived for the sum of 600 million dollars, broadcast today (Wednesday) channel 12. The Cyprus Police have launched an investigation into fraud. The main suspicion is directed against a trustee (note manager) of Gaidamak's money. Gaidamak also lodged a complaint with the Tel Aviv Police. As part of the investigation, the businessman attached evidence and documents linking his partner, a citizen of Cyprus, to the fraud. According to the complaint, the trustee transferred Gaidamak's money from Luxembourg to his own account used in Cyprus. Gaidamak's fortune is estimated at $1.2 billion."
The same report also quotes the lawyer Nir Jaslovic, who undertook to make the allegations on behalf of the businessman: "Today (the day before yesterday) I went to the ICF of Cyprus, following an appeal by the Chief of Police of Cyprus to forward evidence showing that a suspect stole from my client Mr. Arkadi Gaidamak, more than 600 million dollars. After my meeting with the Cyprus Police, I am confident that they will conduct an in-depth and thorough investigation and establish the case against the suspects who stole huge amounts of money."
The premise of the relevant report also refers to 'a trusted person who was the right hand of the businessman and who stole from him a huge sum through a bank in Luxembourg'.
'Claim'
However, the Cyprus Police, although confirming that it has a complaint before it, is nevertheless sparing in its statements, maintaining a strictly responsible attitude. "F" contacted a competent person and brought to his attention what has been published in relation to the allegations of the Russian-Jewish businessman, requesting an official position. However, the only position expressed is that there is a 'claim', which is being considered.
We are told that representatives of Gaidamak made a complaint the day before yesterday to the Anti-Crime Department of the Police Headquarters and specifically to the Financial Crime Subdivision.
Moreover, a person with training and knowledge in handling such cases commented that the Police keep a low profile due to the nature of the case in question. He added that it should be ascertained among other things where the crime has been committed. He concluded: "If the offences have been committed in Luxembourg, then the competent authorities of that state will examine the case and the Cyprus Police will probably be called upon to assist in their work through a request for judicial assistance to the Ministry of Justice."
Who is Arkadi Gaidamak
Arkadi Alexandrovich Gaidamak was born on April 8, 1952 in Moscow and is of Jewish descent. At the age of 20 he went to Israel, taking citizenship, and settled permanently in France, from where he began his business activities.
In the late 1980s, according to reports online, he lived between Paris and London, reselling to the West coal, metal and oil he bought from Russia. In 1992 he began working in Angola as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the president of the country. In 2007, he founded a political movement in Israel, which a year later took part in the state's municipal elections, with the Russian-Israeli businessman also running for mayor of Jerusalem. His involvement in sports was more than noticeable. Among other things, he sponsored the Hapoel Jerusalim basketball team in 2005, while at the same time he donated to the Arab-Israeli football club Bnei Sakchin. His son Alexander, at one time, was also a major shareholder of Portsmouth. In 2009, he and a French businessman were convicted of arms trafficking in Angola during the civil war in the African country (1993-98) and specifically of violating the Lusaka Protocol. Although he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, the sentence was halved after an appellate court. About 15 years ago he bought two newspapers in Russia and France, and in addition to free trade he was involved in international mediation.
It should be noted that Nir Jaslovic, who took over the case on behalf of Gaidamak, had represented the young Israelis accused of raping a British woman in Ayia Napa in the summer of 2019. His clients, who had been detained, were released.
