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21 March 2007
BRUSSELS- The second richest Belgian, Patokh Chodiev (53), is in danger of being taken to court for financial fraud, money laundering and forming a gang. The Uzbek man, who is a naturalised Belgian citizen, must appear in court in Brussels on 5 April.
US magazine Forbes listed Chodiev on its “billionaire list” a few weeks ago, estimating his fortune at EUR 1.44 billion.
Chodiev became notorious at the end of the 1990s as a consultant for energy group Tractebel. Together with two other advisers he reportedly raked in about 70 million dollars in secret commissions. He is said to have used the money to obtain cheap gas contracts for Tractebel in Uzbekistan.
The Brussels court tracked the corruption case and ascertained that Chodiev laundered some of the bribes he received in Belgium. Some of the funds were used to buy a villa in Waterloo, for instance.
[Copyright Expatica News 2007]
Subject: Belgian news