Following Frank Schneider’s arrest in Might, one of many final key figures in OneCoin’s cash laundering operation nonetheless free is Amer Abdulaziz Salman.
In accordance with former CEO Konstantin Ignatov, Salman made off with €100 million in stolen OneCoin investor funds.
That’s on prime of the cash Salman allegedly laundered for OneCoin by way of his shell firm Phoenix Fund.
Banned from additional profiting off laundered OneCoin funds through horse racing in three jurisdictions, Salman has discovered refuge in Eire.
An investigative report by Racing Put up’s Peter Scargill reveals some fascinating developments over the previous 12 months.
We final checked in on Salman (proper) in November 2019. On the time he was hiding out in Dubai, the MLM rip-off capital of the world.
Since then Salman’s racing outfit, Phoenix Thoroughbreds, has been banned from competing within the UAE, France and the UK.
Australia hasn’t gone so far as to ban Phoenix Thoroughbreds, however has banned prize cash on races received.
Over the previous 12 months the Racing Put up additionally learnt that Mark Scott had straight invested OneCoin funds into Phoenix Thoroughbreds. This was revealed by Salman’s ‘former right-hand man Tom Ludt’.
Naturally Salman denies all allegations of wrongdoing however since Mark Scott’s indictment in 2018, has failed to return clear on Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ funding.
Salman has additionally did not adequately reply to enquiries from racing authorities relating to Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ supply of funding. This led to the bans in UAE, France and the UK, and seizing of prize cash in Australia.
Racing Put up has put to Salman the identical funding questions and obtained no reply.
Peter Scargill first reached out to Horse Racing Eire mid 2020.
I spoke with HRI chief govt Brian Kavanagh, who outlined that discussions had been going down to ascertain the details round Phoenix Thoroughbreds and {that a} conclusion could be reached within the matter after that.
Within the subsequent months, I’ve repeatedly requested HRI for updates on the discussions, relaying – if it didn’t already know – what was occurring elsewhere for Phoenix and Abdulaziz.
The latest electronic mail reply got here from a spokeswoman on Friday and, like all of the others, it mentioned: “As beforehand acknowledged, correspondence is ongoing with Phoenix Thoroughbreds and HRI has no additional remark to make right now.”
Scargill states HRI’s response is “not passable”. He additionally questions what HRI has been as much as for the previous 12 months.
Frankly, it appears like HRI would relatively not have interaction with the method and hopes all of it goes away.
I’ve to agree. As different jurisdictions have proven, it doesn’t take a 12 months to ascertain Salman possible funded Phoenix Thoroughbreds with laundered OneCoin funds.
By persevering with to show a blind eye, HRI is complacent within the continued laundering of OneCoin funds by way of Irish horse racing.
Along with HRI turning a blind eye to fraud, so are Salman’s Irish trainers.
Six horses have raced for Phoenix Thoroughbreds in Eire this 12 months, profitable three races, and their trainers – Ado McGuinness and Fozzy Stack – had been about as eager to talk about the scenario as HRI.
“I’ve no touch upon that,” McGuinness mentioned when requested in regards to the proprietor he has 5 horses for. “I don’t talk about my enterprise with any reporter or anybody else.”
Stack added: “I’ve no touch upon that, it’s not my enterprise.”
It appears no one in Eire cares that one in all OneCoin’s prime cash launderers is splashing funds laundered by way of one of many world’s largest Ponzi schemes round.
Effectively, no less than not whereas there’s cash to be made.