Investigation into judge: corruption allegations in Russian magnate case
Anti-Corruption Authority completed two-year investigation into Regional Court president, uncovering evidence of unlawful transactions in 4.5 billion dollar case.
Investigation into judge: corruption allegations in Russian magnate case
A two-year investigation by the Anti-Corruption Authority has concluded with findings that raise serious questions about the transparency of a senior judicial official. The findings concern the president of a Regional Court, who is alleged to have been involved in a property dispute case valued at 4.5 billion dollars.
The case stemmed from a divorce between Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev and his former partner Elena. The woman had filed a lawsuit in Geneva, claiming half of their joint property. In Cypriot courts, the businessman's legal team had submitted a motion seeking to prohibit any legal proceedings outside Cypriot jurisdiction.
The judicial official who handled the motion issued a ruling in favour of Rybolovlev. Elena Rybolovleva's side filed a disqualification request, arguing that the judge's wife worked for a company linked to the opposing counsel's law firm. The official rejected the request, arguing that his wife had been appointed to a different legal entity.
The Anti-Corruption Authority's findings reveal that this claim did not correspond to reality. The wife had been hired at the law firm representing Rybolovlev, with the hiring taking place just days after the ruling was issued. The appeal that followed was accepted by a superior court, which annulled the original ruling as unlawful.
The investigation concludes that there is sufficient evidence of unlawful conduct by the judicial official, who is alleged to have deliberately concealed his wife's relationship with the opposing counsel's law firm.
Source: Philenews
Source: Philenews