A family representative for Binance and two of its executives stated in an interview that a Nigerian court had postponed the money laundering trial against the company and two of its executives until June 20 due to the illness of one of the executives. Along with his company, Tigran Gambaryan, an American citizen who oversees financial crimes compliance for Binance, was accused of tax evasion and money laundering. Gambaryan’s attorney wrote to trial judge Emeka Nwite that their client is “very ill and requires comprehensive medical attention,” according to a Reuters report.
According to the letter written by Gambaryan’s attorney, the medical facility administered intravenous therapy for malaria to him after he collapsed on Thursday. Gambaryan was arrested by Nigerian police in February and, after celebrating his 40th birthday this past week, was sent to Kuje jail, which is home to members of the terrorist organization Boko Haram. Alongside him in custody was Nadeem Anjarwalla, the British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa. Although Anjarwalla managed to flee, he was nevertheless charged with money laundering.
“Yesterday, despite numerous signs of severe illness, my husband was still required to appear in court, where he later collapsed,” Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, said in the statement seen by CoinDesk. “The conditions in the notorious Kuje prison are, in a word, devastating. My husband is a strong, healthy person, but he is facing an environment that would bring even the strongest among us to our knees.”
A family representative stated at the time that Gambaryan’s arraignment over the tax evasion charges was originally scheduled for this Wednesday, but it was rescheduled until June 14. Reuters said he did not show up for the session. The executive was likewise refused bail last week due to fears that he could attempt to flee.
“I am calling, yet again, for his immediate release,” Gambaryan’s wife said. “This punitive punishment against Tigran in an effort to target his employer has gone on long enough. My husband is sick; he needs help. Please, show some sense of humanity.