National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK has concluded investigations into sources of 15 million pounds reportedly kept on bank accounts of Javanshir Feyziyev, member of Azerbaijani Parliament.
The UK court ruled to freeze 6 bank accounts opened on the names of Feyziyev’s wife, son and nephew. Consequently, 5.6 million out of total 15 million pounds frozen on the accounts was forfeited.
“Through the laundromat, money would be moved via a complex network of shell companies that operated bank accounts in Estonia and Latvia, a process known as layering. Some of these transfers were accompanied by documents, including invoices and contracts, purporting to support legitimate and very substantial business transactions.”
Westminster Magistrates court ruled after trials that took over three weeks that the documents were faked to make transactions look legitimate. Evidence brought before the court was scrutinized and the existence of money laundering scheme in Azerbaijan, Estonia, and Latvia at certain times was cleared.
After the news was publicized by independent media in Azerbaijan, state-owned news agency Azertag published its own made-up version, with title “UK Court restored justice”, claiming that it was ruled to unfreeze the Feyziyevs’ accounts as they earned the money legally. After bloggers pointed fingers, Azertag removed the article.
Talking to local news website modern.az, Feyziyev denied the official news saying no accounts were frozen.
