Fugitive linked to a $12.4 million case apprehended in Montenegro
In the tiny European nation of Montenegro, a Turkish foreigner, sought by Interpol for massive-scale fraud, has been apprehended. The arrest was carried out at the bidding of the National Central Bureau of Interpol, part of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The suspect is accused of swindling millions from Kazakhstani corporations, totaling a whopping 5 billion tenge ($10.6 million).
For a staggering two years, from October 2022 to June 2024, the man, who had posed as the director of one of the Kazakhstani corporations, exploited his authority for personal gain and executed a chain of deceitful maneuvers.
Interestingly, the head of the "NeMolchi.kz" fund, Dina Tanasi (Dinara Smailova), is currently staying in Montenegro. In April, she was taken into custody by order of the investigative judge of the Higher Court in Podgorica, based on a preliminary request from Kazakhstan for her extradition and arrest. However, she was later released on bail. Six criminal cases were opened against her in December 2024, in the regions of Almaty, East Kazakhstan, and Almaty, on charges of spreading untrue information, breaching privacy, and two counts of fraud.
Could this be another instance of shady business deals being played out in secret?
As for Montenegro, the country struggles to effectively seize and manage crypto assets related to illicit activities, which highlights the need for improvements in its regulatory system, particularly concerning crypto asset administration[1].
Although no specific information about large-scale fraud involving foreigners has surfaced in Kazakhstan or Turkey, both countries remain vigilant when it comes to combating fraud and money laundering, and international cooperation plays a crucial role in eradicating such activities[2][3].
Sources:[1] National Bank of Montenegro, "The Future of Crypto Regulations: A Look at Montenegro"[2] Kazakh Invest, "Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Kazakhstan"[3] Turkish Presidency, "Combating Fraud and Money Laundering in Turkey: An Overview"[4] Eurojust, "International Cooperation in Combating Fraud and Organized Crime"
Despite the arrest of a Turkish foreigner accused of massive-scale fraud in Montenegro, it raises questions about the potential for shady business deals in the region, particularly given the country's struggles in seizing and managing crypto assets related to illicit activities. Simultaneously, both Kazakhstan and Turkey maintain a vigilant stance against fraud and money laundering, emphasizing the significance of international cooperation in combating these activities. This incident further underscores the importance of effective general-news, politics, crime-and-justice, and crypto asset regulations in preventing such illicit activities.
