3 Suspected of Stealing $600 Million
- Share via
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Russian investigators suspect that tycoon Boris A. Berezovsky and two airline executives hid about $600 million of hard currency in Switzerland--almost three times more than any figures previously revealed--according to court papers released Saturday.
The new figure was given to Swiss authorities by Russian investigators who sought Swiss help in finding evidence and blocking bank accounts.
The Russian investigators claim that Berezovsky, Nikolai Glushkov and Alexander Krasneker stole $400 million of profits from the Russian airline Aeroflot. They also allege the three took $200 million in air traffic fees.
The money was hidden in two Swiss companies, Andava and Forus Services, the Russian investigators say. It was then laundered through various financial operations, including purchases of property and shares, the investigators say.
Berezovsky has denied the charges in the ongoing inquiry.
Forus has insisted that “it has not committed any irregularities whatsoever.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
