Ablyazov's case comes in too costly for British taxpayers

High Court of England. ©REUTERS

British taxpayers spend millions of pounds on legal costs related to high-profile trials against rich foreign businessmen in London, The Telegraph writes citing the research made by The Sunday Telegraph. According to the magazine, three trials currently reviewed in the civil courts took 285 days of court time. "High-profile cases such Boris Berezovsky against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and Kazakhstan bank BTA against its former chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, have already taken up more than a year of court time," The Telegraph writes. During all that time the taxpayers have to pay salaries to judges, clerks and other court officials. Besides, British money is also spent on maintenance of the offices and payment of other similar bills. The total amount spent by British taxpayers on activities of the civil courts made 612 million pounds ($962 million) last year. Earlier The Lawyer tagged Ablyazov's case one of the the biggest trials in London in 2011. Seven claims were filed against the Kazakh businessman currently residing in Great Britain. He is accused of embezzlement of the total of $4.5 billion. On February 16 London’s High Court sentenced Ablyazov to 22 months in prison for contempt of court. “He must be taken into custody immediately,” judge Nigel Teare said. This ruling was made on the motion on contempt of court filed by BTA Bank. The defendant did not attend the hearing. Later the Court decided to deprive the former chairman of BTA Bank of his right to defend in court , if he does not give in to British court by March 9.

British taxpayers spend millions of pounds on legal costs related to high-profile trials against rich foreign businessmen in London, The Telegraph writes citing the research made by The Sunday Telegraph. According to the magazine, three trials currently reviewed in the civil courts took 285 days of court time. "High-profile cases such Boris Berezovsky against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and Kazakhstan bank BTA against its former chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, have already taken up more than a year of court time," The Telegraph writes. During all that time the taxpayers have to pay salaries to judges, clerks and other court officials. Besides, British money is also spent on maintenance of the offices and payment of other similar bills. The total amount spent by British taxpayers on activities of the civil courts made 612 million pounds ($962 million) last year. Earlier The Lawyer tagged Ablyazov's case one of the the biggest trials in London in 2011. Seven claims were filed against the Kazakh businessman currently residing in Great Britain. He is accused of embezzlement of the total of $4.5 billion. On February 16 London’s High Court sentenced Ablyazov to 22 months in prison for contempt of court. “He must be taken into custody immediately,” judge Nigel Teare said. This ruling was made on the motion on contempt of court filed by BTA Bank. The defendant did not attend the hearing. Later the Court decided to deprive the former chairman of BTA Bank of his right to defend in court , if he does not give in to British court by March 9.

trial news London Kazakhstan Kazakh Europe Court Ablyazov