Chechen banker wanted for ‘laundering $16.8 million’

An arrest warrant was issued on 3 July for Sayd-Magomed Dzhabrailov, head of Sberbank Russia in Chechnya. He is accused of laundering large sums of money through a number of fake companies.

The Investigation Department of Chechnya’s Ministry of Internal Affairs claims that Dzhabrailov stole ₽1 billion ($16.8 million) from the company’s accounts.

His current location is unknown; investigators believe that he has left Russia, but have declined to specify where.

Kavkaz.Realii reported on 3 July that senior Chechen officials, led by Chechnya’s parliamentary chair, Magomed Daudov, had extorted money from Dzhabrailov in mid June.

According to Kavkaz.Realii the scheme also involved Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Apti Alaudinov, as well as Chief Prosecutor Sharpuddi Abdulkadyrov. They quoted a source as saying that the group threatened to launch a criminal case against the banker for ‘financing illegal armed groups’ if he did not pay them.

After being threatened, Dzhabrailov left the republic.