The Belgian billionaire Patokh Chodiev is the latest figure to be revealed on Wednesday from the largest tax document leak uncovered by the so-called “Panama papers” investigation, completed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which Le Soir, De Tijd, Knack and MO* have been involved in. No less than 25 offshore companies have been linked to Patokh Chodiev, the businessman of Uzbek origin and one of the wealthiest men in Belgium. So reveals the study of financial documents leaked from the office of the Panamanian lawyers, Mossack Fonseca.
The latter relate some fourteen years of correspondence between Mr Chodiev's professional advisers and Mossack Fonseca. One particular e-mail, dated April 30th, 2014, from a financial services provider, established in Guernsey, St Peter's Trust Co Ltd, and intended for Mossack Fonseca in Anguilla, detailed the bulk of his property concealed in these offshore companies. This e-mail resumed details of managers, real and personal property and the source of his fortune. A fortune which includes, in particular, two aeroplanes, one of which is a private jet, luxury boats and shares in a Russian company. So details Le Soir on Wednesday.
The daily paper also brings to light Mr Chodiev's links with another incredibly wealthy Belgian, Alijan Ibragimov, also engaged in the previous so-called “Kazakhgate” who may possibly have obtained a Belgian passport, despite being prosecuted in Belgium in proceedings for money laundering, forgery and making use of forged documents with the intent to defraud.
(Source: Belga)
