A new hearing has been held in the criminal case launched by the State Security Service (SSS) against Anass Derraz — the vice president of France’s well-known SAUR company and a French citizen of Moroccan origin — who was arrested on charges of accepting large-scale bribes and other crimes, APA reports.
The hearing, chaired by Judge Farid Namazov, took place at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, where the defendant’s personal information was reverified.
Indictment
The state prosecutor then announced the indictment.
Contract involving former French presidential guard and Russian billionaire
According to the charges, in 2018, while working at the Viola company, Anass Derraz assisted Alexandre Benalla — former head of the French Presidential Security Service — in reaching an agreement with Russian billionaire Farhad Akhmedov, founder of Aznar JSC, with the intent of receiving a bribe from the latter.
$6 million demanded to release yacht seized in Dubai
Thus, he reached an agreement with both individuals and, under the pretext of concealing criminal traces and issuing orders, demanded a bribe of 6 million 140 thousand dollars from the Russian billionaire for the release of the yacht named "Luna" — which had been seized in Dubai — so that it could be freed from international sanctions and sail freely.
A. Derraz, together with A. Benalla, signed a contract with Farhad Ahmadov on November 15, 2018, stating that they would receive $600,000 for the first time and the remaining $5.5 million within 15 days after the arrest on the ship was lifted, in order to conceal the true source of the money to be transferred to the bank under the pretext of providing consulting services in connection with the release of the yacht in the Dubai court.
The initial amount was divided, and $400,000 was transferred from "Aznar" to A. Benalla's account at the Bank of Africa United Kingdom, and $200,000 to A. Derraz's account. They hid this from official circulation.
The process will continue on July 31.
Charges brought by the State Security Service
Note that Anass Derraz has been charged by the State Security Service (SSS) under Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained through crime, when committed in significant amounts) and 32.5, 311.3.3 (accepting bribes [passive bribery], when committed in large amounts) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Recall that former head of the French President’s Security Service Alexandre Benalla and Anass Derraz, Vice President of the French company SAUR, which has a multibillion turnover (currently in Azerbaijan and under prosecution), are accused of receiving large bribes in exchange for lifting international sanctions against Russian billionaire of Azerbaijani origin, Farhad Ahmadov and other criminal offenses.
According to previous reports published in foreign and local media regarding this case, French officials allegedly demanded a bribe from Farhad Ahmadov in exchange for releasing his luxurious Luna yacht from international seizure and providing him with protection from sanctions.
Based on the information, part of the multimillion-dollar bribe was transferred to Anass Derraz’s account at AL HILAL BANK and Alexandre Benalla’s account at BANK OF AFRICA UNITED KINGDOM PLC SC PAR.
A. Derraz, who was in the hands of investigation in an unknown manner, was held accountable in Azerbaijan and banned from leaving the country, while INTERPOL was contacted to put A. Benalla on the international wanted list.
INTERPOL’s issuance of a “Red Notice”—the most serious legal basis for international search—against former head of the French President’s Security Service A. Benalla indicates that the State Security Service holds undeniable and credible evidence. A “Red Notice” entails the detention of the person in the country where they are found and their extradition to the requesting country. It is known that A. Benalla is currently subject to extradition proceedings in a third country.
