According to the London account
As it became known “Kommersant”, despite the serious disagreements between Russia and Britain, the law enforcement bodies which ceased to cooperate with each other, London’s High court continues to hear cases related to the Russian Federation. He ruled in favor of the Bank of Moscow (member of VTB group), by submitting a claim for fraud to the former head of the group of companies JFC Vladimir Kekhman, later head of the Mikhailovsky theatre and Novosibirsk theatre of Opera and ballet. The court considered that Mr Kekhman has received two major Bank credit only with the falsification of documents and fraud, decided to collect from more than $140 million.
His decision, the honourable judge Brian office of the Commercial court of Queen’s bench of the High court of justice of England and Wales handed down April 12. Claims of the credit institution, member of the VTB group, was to play a leading role Vladimir Kekhman in obtaining two credits in Bank of Moscow in the fall of 2011 for $140 million and approximately 305 million rubles.
They returned structures of the group of companies JFC, which was the main supplier to the Russian market of bananas and other fruits was not. JFC myself in 2015 was declared bankrupt.
In its lawsuit, the representatives of the Bank of Moscow pointed out that Mr Kekhman was a beneficiary of the group and personally supervised all of its activities, including through top-Manager Yulia Zakharova.
In support of their claims, the lawyers pointed out that the JFC staff under the direction of Mrs. Zakharova made a false financial statements of the group companies. In particular, according to the Bank, JFC revenue for 2010 was overstated by $213 million and debt of $198 million.
In fact, the work “banana Corporation” were unprofitable.
Visibility is the real success was created by a fictitious contracts on delivery of the same bananas by some firms, the formally not part of the JFC, but as it turned out, under the control of employees of the group companies of its Cyprus office. According to the Bank of Moscow, which upheld judge Bryan, this was informed by Vladimir Kekhman.
As follows from the decision of the court (available to the “b”), Mr. Kekhman knew that 50% of the shares in the holding company of the group JFC — JFC Group Holding (BVI) Limited were pledged to Sberbank. However, these facts were hidden from the Bank of Moscow, as otherwise he wouldn’t have to lend to suppliers of bananas.
The third paragraph claims the Bank was the withdrawal of Vladimir Kekhman’s assets for the JFC to offshore in anticipation of the imminent financial collapse of the group.
Mr. Kekhman, submitted to the London court an affidavit, and personally experienced the process, their involvement in the Scam denied. He insisted that in 2007 withdrew from the business, focusing on the management of the Mikhailovsky theatre.
According to his version, made in court, the documentation was forged, the Treasurer JFC Julia Zakharova, while the liability for Bank loans was lying on Andrei Afanasyev, who was CEO of CJSC “Group JFC”. Also, Mr. Kekhman has insisted on his innocence to the firms that displayed the money for the JFC. However, despite the promise of Mr Kekhman to speak the truth and only the truth, judge Brian did not believe him.
“I have no doubt that Mr. Kekhman is not a truthful witness,” said the judge, calling it “unfair, unfair and unsatisfactory” by the defendant in connection with the tendency to “invent facts” and “an unimaginable explanation.”
It should be noted that the evidence against Vladimir Kekhman gave in London and Andrew Afanasiev, who said that he and Ms. Zakharova were instruments in the hands of their boss who took all the decisions. The court also agreed with the statement about the withdrawal of tens of millions of dollars not only to ensure the departed in the theater life of that fruit vendor, and development projects.
While judge Bryan cited and filed correspondence of former employees of JFC, which, in particular, said: “we got to dig through all this shit, tired of this garbage, tired of lying to auditors”. The court, assess the ways of earning money by Mr Kekhman, decided to charge him over $140 million, as well as court costs.
Earlier Vladimir Kekhman was declared personal bankruptcy in England and at home, and repeatedly stated that he has no assets. However, lenders, doubting the sincerity of the defendant are going to look for them in Russia and abroad.
“The Bank will continue to seek repayment of CJSC “Group JFC” all available methods in accordance with the legislation”, — told “Kommersant” in the press service of VTB group, expressing his satisfaction with the decision of the London court.
Moreover, after the entry into force, it could become the basis for new criminal case against Mr Kekhman.
Earlier and it and testified in London Yulia Zakharova and Andrei Afanasiev was involved in a criminal case about large fraud in lending (section 4 of article 159.1 of the criminal code) and money laundering obtained by criminal means (part 2 of article 174.1 of the criminal code), according to which the damage to the banks, subsidize the JFC exceeded RUB 20 billion, However, investigative Department of the Ministry of internal Affairs it was closed due to lapse of time after the charge was changed to unlawful obtaining credit (article 176 of the criminal code).
Himself, Mr. Kekhman said “Kommersant” that they had heard about the decision of the London court, which studied his lawyers. From detailed comments he abstained.
Sergey Sergeev, Nikolai Sergeyev