The so-called “Princess of Uzbekistan” has been accused by Swiss authorities of leading an international criminal organization that laundered hundreds of millions of dollars.
Gulnara Karimova – a socialite daughter of former dictator Islam Karimov – has been accused of stealing hundreds of millions from Uzbekistan and bribing global government executives and officials, according to the Financial Times.
Karimova, 51, has been in an Uzbek prison since 2019 and was indicted in Switzerland Thursday on charges of leading an alleged crime syndicate.
He allegedly laundered the money through various companies and bank accounts based in Switzerland.
The organization of former UN diplomats is allegedly known as “The Office,” according to Swiss authorities, and consists of more than 100 legitimate companies that secretly work to hide stolen money to enrich its members, The Times reported.
Karimova enjoyed immunity from prosecution for years due to her status as a diplomat, during which she traveled the world, promoting her lavish lifestyle and famous friends.
Gulnara Karimova, 51 — who is currently jailed in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan — was indicted in Switzerland Thursday on charges of being an alleged criminal syndicate.Getty Images
The central hub for the criminal organization — which allegedly began in 2005 — was reportedly a Swiss company called Zeromax, which ceased operations in 2010. Creditors of Zeromax sued auditor EY after years of unusual activity was found on the company’s accounts, including millions spent on jewels and luxury medical care, according to the Financial Times.
The former fashion designer allegedly used a safety deposit box at Lombard Odier — a Swiss banking company — to house millions worth of diamonds and gemstones. In addition, more than 400 million francs, or about $440 million, of assets in Karimova’s name remain frozen in banks, The Times reported.
The bank is also being investigated for Karimova’s assets, on “suspicion of failing to exercise sufficient diligence in financial transactions and aggravated money laundering.”
Karimova is accused of stealing hundreds of millions from Uzbekistan and bribing global executives and government officialsGetty Images
Karimova has denied the allegations. His Geneva-based lawyer, Grégoire Mangeat, said the former socialite “defies all charges and will fight for his release.”
“The theory of criminal organization is completely disputed. It was pulled out of a hat by Swiss prosecutors just a year ago, 10 years after the start of their investigation,” he said, according to the Financial Times. “Our client Gulnara Karimova has been held in arbitrary detention for almost 10 years. He has no clue how much longer he will have to spend in prison in Uzbekistan.”
Despite the “princess’s” denial, Swiss prosecutors argued her organization “conducted its criminal activities as a professional business, complying with mandatory rules and complying with strict duty provisions, while also using violence and intimidation.”
Switzerland began investigating him after his father died in 2016, causing him to lose his diplomatic immunity.
Karimova was also placed under house arrest in 2013 following the political transition in the Central Asian country and convicted in 2017 of embezzlement in her home country, The Times reported.
Since then, his lawyer says he has been tortured and deprived of his basic rights.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
