The UK downgrades its investigations into Dia’s owner but maintains money laundering investigations

The National Crime Agency continues its investigations into Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, the main shareholder of the Dia supermarket chain, but is reducing the scope of its investigation, according to information published by the newspaper. financial times.

One of the largest Russian oligarchs is after the owner of the most expensive apartments in Spain

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At the end of last year, the Pole was arrested and released on bail, charged with conspiracy to commit perjury and conspiracy to defraud the Home Office, as well as money laundering. This last accusation was maintained, but the other two lines of investigation could have been stopped, according to the aforementioned newspaper.

A year ago, Friedman was on the list of Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the European Union in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s government.

The owner of the company that controls Zia

The oligarch, who was born in Ukraine, owns the Dia supermarket chain through the Luxembourg-based investment company LetterOne. Through this entity, it owns more than 77% of the share capital of the distribution brand. After being placed on the EU sanctions list, Friedman resigned from his position as an advisor to LetterOne.

And in the case under investigation in the UK, the charges were dismissed, according to financial timeslinked to the billionaire’s interference with his partner’s UK residency application.

In December, the NCA did not reveal Friedman’s identity, merely detaining a 58-year-old man, a “Russian businessman,” he said in a statement.

He also arrested two other people. On the one hand, a 35-year-old man on suspicion of money laundering and obstructing investigations, “after he was seen leaving the address with a bag containing thousands of pounds in cash.”

The second arrested is the “ex-boyfriend of the businessman’s current partner” on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

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