A British businessman has been arrested on suspicion of serving to a Russian oligarch evade US sanctions.
Graham Bonham-Carter is alleged to have helped billionaire Oleg Deripaska transfer his art work out of America and made funds to take care of his US properties, prosecutors declare.
Mr Deripaska has been underneath US sanctions since 2018 for alleged hyperlinks to the Russian authorities.
But final 12 months prosecutors say Mr Bonham-Carter transferred over $1m to pay for the maintenance of three US properties owned by Mr Deripaska.
The 62-year-old additionally allegedly tried to switch art work from a New York public sale home to London “through misrepresentations concealing Deripaska’s ownership of the artwork”.
The fees have been detailed in a US Department of Justice assertion.
Mr Bonham-Carter, second cousin of actress Helena Bonham Carter, was arrested within the UK – however American prosecutors are looking for his extradition.
He faces three fees: conspiring to evade US sanctions; violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; and wire fraud.
Each carries a possible most sentence of 20 years.
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) mentioned Mr Bonham-Carter had appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after the extradition request and had been launched on conditional bail.
“Bonham-Carter is believed to be linked to Deripaska through a number of high-value properties in the United States and in the UK – all suspected to be ultimately held for Deripaska’s benefit,” mentioned the NCA in a press release.
Mr Deripaska, who based aluminium firm Rusal, was additionally charged final month, together with three others, for allegedly violating new US sanctions imposed over Russia’s battle with Ukraine.
The fees included using a girl to promote a California music studio on his behalf and attempting to have his girlfriend journey to the US to present delivery to his youngster.
All of Mr Deripaska’s property within the UK have been frozen, as have two accounts held by Mr Bonham-Carter suspected of getting used to launder cash for the billionaire.
In March, protesters occupied a home in central London they mentioned belonged to Mr Deripaska. However, he claimed it was owned by members of the family and never him.
Western nations have imposed a raft of sanctions on rich and influential figures suspected of being near Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s regime in a bid to exert stress over the Ukraine invasion.
Source: information.sky.com”