Kazakh family win Unexplained Wealth Order battle over London homes
- Published
The mansion at The Bishops Avenue - known as Billionaires' Row - in Hampstead is the family home of Nurali Aliyev
Two members of Kazakhstan's political elite have won a High Court challenge against Unexplained Wealth Orders.
The orders centred on three multimillion-pound London homes worth more than £80m and owned by the daughter and grandson of the former Kazakh president.
After winning the court challenge, the pair said they felt "vindicated".
The National Crime Agency - which obtained the orders to seize their homes last May - said it will appeal.
The three London homes are owned for the benefit of Nurali Aliyev and his leading Kazakh politician mother, Dariga Nazarbayeva.
Dr Nazarbayeva with The Queen and Prince Andrew in 2015
The National Crime Agency suspected all three of the mega properties in London were bought with riches embezzled by Mr Aliyev's notorious and now dead father, Rakhat Aliyev.
Rakhat Aliyev once styled himself "Godfather-in-law" and was accused of crimes including murder, before his own death in prison.
Mr Aliyev and Dr Nazarbayeva denied all wrongdoing and said they can prove independent and legitimate wealth for their UK property investments. They applied to the High Court to discharge the UWOs.
Giving judgment remotely on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Lang overturned all three of the orders.
She ruled that "the NCA's assumption" that Rakhat Aliyev was the source of the money used to buy the three properties was "unreliable".
What are Unexplained Wealth Orders?
Unexplained Wealth Orders were powers brought into force in January 2018 in the fight against suspected criminal money invested in property.
National Crime Agency investigators can use UWOs to require owners to disclose how they managed to buy a luxury home.
If they do not agree with the explanation, they can then ask the courts to confiscate it.
UWOs are sometimes known as "McMafia laws" - named after the BBC organised crime drama based on a book.
What are the three properties?
The properties were identified in an investigation by BBC News, Finance Uncovered, external and Transparency International, external into the ownership of London property by members of Kazakhstan's political elite.
A high security mansion at 33 The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead - one of the most expensive roads in Britain known as "Billionaires' Row". The 10-bedroom home has an underground pool, "tropical showers", a glass domed roof, a dedicated cinema and separate quarters for staff
A mega apartment in a luxury secure development at 21 Manresa Road, Chelsea, constructed following a multi-million pound merger of two already enormous flats
Another secure mansion at 32 Denewood Road, Highgate, a private cul-de-sac with views over one of London's most exclusive golf clubs
The judge added there was "cogent evidence" that Dr Nazarbayeva and Nurali Aliyev had founded the companies which owned the homes, and provided the money to pay for them.
In a statement, Nurali Aliyev called the NCA's investigation "flawed" and "entirely without merit".
"The NCA deliberately ignored the relevant information I voluntarily provided and pursued a groundless and vicious legal action, including making shocking slurs against me, my family and my country," he said.
A spokesman for Dr Nazarbayeva added: "Today's judgment has entirely vindicated Dr Nazarbayeva. She is pleased that the court has agreed with her that the NCA's investigations were flawed and that she has not been involved in any wrongdoing.
"It is frustrating and disappointing that she has had to take this action to fight these draconian proceedings and clear her name."
'NCA is tenacious'
Graeme Biggar, the head of the NCA's national economic crime centre, said they "always expected there would be significant legal challenge" over the use of UWOs.
"We disagree with this decision to discharge the UWOs and will be filing an appeal. These hearings will establish the case law on which future judgments will be based, so it is vital that we get this right," he said.
"The NCA is tenacious. We have been very clear that we will use all the legislation at our disposal to pursue suspected illicit finance and we will continue to do so."
- Published10 March 2020
