A key mover in the international horse racing and bloodstock world has been accused of being involved in money laundering as part of the OneCoin cryptocurrency scam.
Amer Abdulaziz Salman, the founder of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, was named by Konstantin Ignatov, a prosecution witness during the trial of lawyer Mark Scott.
Phoenix Thoroughbreds denies the allegation.
In his testimony from the New York court, which was live-tweeted by the investigative journalism website Inner City Press, Ignatov reportedly referred to Dubai-based Abdulaziz as “one of the main money launderers” involved in the scheme.
Ignatov went on: “After he stole €100m from OneCoin, he started buying racehorses for, like, €25m.”
Phoenix said in a statement to the Guardian that it “categorically denies all allegations made against it and its owner, Mr Amer Abdulaziz, in legal proceedings against OneCoin and its conspirators”.
It added that Phoenix and Abdulaziz “have acted according to the law at all times and will vigorously contest all allegations of wrongdoing.
“[We] will fully co-operate with relevant authorities, should they require any assistance.”
Konstantin Ignatov, brother of missing ‘Cryptoqueen’ Ruja Ignatova
Scott was arrested in 2018 following investigations into OneCoin’s activities which began a year after its founder and CEO – self-proclaimed ‘Cryptoqueen’ Ruja Ignatova – disappeared from her luxury home in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The lawyer was found guilty over his role in the scam which stole more than $4bn from thousands of unsuspecting victims throughout the world. He will be sentenced in February.
The jury decided he was entirely responsible for routing a staggering $400m out of the US as he actively worked to hide the source and ownership of the money.
State prosecutors estimated he personally pocketed around $50m from the laundering.
Konstantin Ignatov, the brother of Ruja Ignatova, has admitted his role in the OneCoin cryptocurrency fraud.
Bulgaria-based OneCoin continues to trade, and has vehemently denied it is a scam.
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