URGENT: Fugitive Former BTA Banker Ablyazov Detained in Southern France
PARIS. August 01. KAZINFORM - Former BTA Bank Chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, who has been in hiding since last year, was detained in southern France, according to his son and French police, according to BLOOMBERG.
Ablyazov, an opponent of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev , was arrested by armed officers today at his sister’s house near Cannes, his son Madiyar Ablyazov said by e-mail.
The police in Aix-en-Provence, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Cannes, confirmed his arrest. Ablyazov is being held in Aix-en-Provence at the request of Interpol, a spokeswoman at the Commissariat de Police said, asking not to be identified, citing internal regulations.
Kazakh prosecutors issued an international arrest warrant for Ablyazov in March 2009 on suspicion of embezzlement. BTA, the country’s biggest lender before it was taken over by sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna four years ago, has filed civil suits claiming the former chairman siphoned off more than $5 billion. Ablyazov has denied the accusations, saying the lawsuits are politically motivated.
The arrest was carried out at the request of Ukraine, Madiyar Ablyazov and his sister Madina said in a joint statement.
A hearing may be held as soon as tomorrow morning.
French police today checked information provided earlier about Ablyazov with Russia ’s Interior Ministry , which may have been used to find him, a press official at the ministry said today by phone, asking not to be indentified in line with internal policy. Russia also issued an international warrant in 2011, according to the Russian Interior Ministry.
Ablyazov, who was granted asylum in Britain two years ago, fled the U.K. in February 2012 after being sentenced to 22 months in prison for contempt of court.