A Ukrainian fugitive who was thought to have died has been found not only alive but leading a lavish lifestyle in France, European law enforcers announced on Oct. 16.
French police and Europol arrested the Ukrainian in Dijon on Oct. 5, Europol’s press service said in a statement published on its website. The Ukrainian is suspected of masterminding a complex case of international fraud and money laundering.
The investigators found that the fugitive Ukrainian was wanted in Ukraine for corruption but had managed to escape justice by forging a death certificate.
“The seizures during the action day alone amount at over 4.6 million euros, a vintage Rolls Royce Phantom and three works of art by Salvador Dali,” Europol press service said, reporting details of the arrest.
Europol press service refused to name the suspect in comments to the Kyiv Post.
“This person has not been prosecuted yet. That’s why we can’t give any further details,” the press service said.
Vasyl Nevolya, the head of Ukrainian department of Interpol, described the fugitive Ukrainians as “just an ordinary smart criminal, not connected to politics.”
The Ukrainian was found alive after the French Gendarmerie initiated an investigation in January into suspicion transactions surrounding the purchase of a castle.
A Luxembourgish company, owned by a Ukrainian citizen suspected of a large-scale corruption, allegedly purchased a castle for 3 million euros in France.
After French law enforcers contacted their Ukrainian colleagues, it emerged that in Ukraine the investigated person was thought to have died.
After that, the investigation, which started as a domestic fraud case, turned into an investigation into international money laundering, police said.
As a result, plans were made to arrest the suspect, together with three accomplices. To help, Europol deployed a number its asset-recovery experts to assist the French authorities, the Europol press release read.
