UK court, at the request of the
administrator of the bankrupt and nationalized Lithuanian bank Sronas, arrested
the property, including real estate in Jurmala, of the bank’s former major
shareholder – Russian billionaire Vladimir Antonov, amounting to EUR 492 million.
Vladimir Antonov is indirect (through the Lithuanian bank Snoras) coowner of Latvian bank Latvijas Krājbanka which is
undergoing bankruptcy
procedure.
As stated in the ruling of the Commercial
Court of England and the Upper Wells dated May 18, a copy of which is at BNS’s
disposal, real estate, his securities, funds held in bank accounts, and other
property held in custody in the banks, both directly and indirectly owned by
Antonov, shall be arrested, according to Interfax.
Court ruling was rendered without notice to Antonov, it can be
appealed in the manner established in the UK with prior notice to Snoras
lawyers. The court will continue to consider this issue on June 15.
It is reported that the court has arrested
three real estate items in the UK, as well as one item in Jurmala (Latvia) and
Limassol (Cyprus), shares and securities owned by Antonov in British companies
Conversgroup Holding, Convers Sports Initiatives, Pensions Bank and companies
registered in another 21 countries of the world.
19 accounts have also been arrested in the
banks in Switzerland, Ukraine, Latvia, Austria and the UK. Earlier it was
reported that last autumn,
in order to cover the losses from Latvijas Krājbanka collapse, Latvian State Police in criminal
proceedings seized the Latvian property of Vladimir Antonov - 14 luxury cars
and a house in Jurmala.
In particular, they arrested Aston Martin,
Maserati Grand Sport, BMW Alpina Roadsyer V8, Alfa Romeo Competizione, two
Ferrari. The cars have the licence plates of Latvia, Lithuania and Switzerland.
The total cost of the arrested cars is about EUR one mln.
Now within
seven days Antonov should inform Snoras’s lawyers of the property available
worldwide valued in excess of EUR 10 thousand, and within 14 days officially
confirm that the information provided is true, according to the court ruling.
The court allowed Antonov to spend up to EUR 5 thousand a week for current
expenses and a “reasonable” amount of money on legal
services. Before spending the funds Antonov should inform Snoras’s lawyers
about the source of their receipt. Court ruling does not prohibit Antonovto carry out business operations.
Last November, the Lithuanian Prosecutor
General's Office initiated pre-trial investigation of suspicions of possible
off-the book financial scheme, document forgery, abuse, embezzlement and money
laundering in Snoras bank.
Shortly thereafter, Antonov holding 68.1% of
the shares of the nationalized and bankrupt Snoras bank and his partner Raimondas Baranauskas were detained in London
under an arrest warrant issued by Lithuanian prosecutors, they were later
released on bail. London court decides on their extradition to Lithuania.
Baranauskas and Antonov in London oppose to
their extradition to Lithuania.
Vilnius 2nd District Court appointed against
Antonov and Baranauskas arrest on November 22. The same day, the Prosecutor
General Darius Valis signed European warrants for their arrest. Two days later,
two suspects were arrested in London. The new arrest warrant verified the
amount of embezzlement, of which they are suspected, now they estimate it at LTL 700 million, meanwhile,
in the arrest warrant dated November 22, the amount of LTL 987 million was mentioned.
Both ex-bankers are recognized suspects of
stealing a large amount of property, forgery, and Baranauskas - of accounting
fraud, abuse of official position.
Vilnius District Court initiated Snoras bank
bankruptcy case on December 7 last year.
