Baku: A new hearing has been held in the criminal case launched by the State Security Service (SSS) against Anass Derraz, the vice president of France’s SAUR company, who was arrested on charges of accepting large-scale bribes and other crimes, APA reports. The hearing, chaired by Judge Farid Namazov, took place at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, where the defendant’s personal information was reverified.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the charges against Anass Derraz relate to an incident in 2018, when he was working at the Viola company. Derraz allegedly assisted Alexandre Benalla, former head of the French Presidential Security Service, in reaching an agreement with Russian billionaire Farhad Akhmedov. The agreement aimed to receive a substantial bribe from Akhmedov.
The charges detail that an agreement was reached with both Benalla and Akhmedov, under the pretext of concealing criminal traces and issuing orders. A bribe of $6,140,000 was demanded from Akhmedov for the release of his yacht, “Luna,” which had been seized in Dubai. The yacht was to be freed from international sanctions to sail freely.
A. Derraz and A. Benalla signed a contract with Farhad Ahmadov on November 15, 2018. The contract stated that an initial payment of $600,000 would be made, with the remaining $5.5 million due within 15 days after the yacht’s arrest was lifted. This payment was to be disguised as consulting services related to the yacht’s release in the Dubai court.
The initial sum was divided, with $400,000 transferred to Benalla’s account at the Bank of Africa United Kingdom, and $200,000 to Derraz’s account. These transactions were hidden from official circulation, with the process set to continue on July 31.
Charges against Anass Derraz by the State Security Service include Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained through crime, in significant amounts) and 32.5, 311.3.3 (accepting bribes, in large amounts) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The case involves former French Presidential Security Service head Alexandre Benalla and Anass Derraz, accused of receiving large bribes in exchange for lifting international sanctions against Farhad Ahmadov and other offenses. Reports suggest French officials allegedly demanded a bribe from Akhmedov to release his yacht and provide sanction protection.
Part of the multimillion-dollar bribe was reportedly transferred to Derraz’s account at AL HILAL BANK and Benalla’s account at BANK OF AFRICA UNITED KINGDOM PLC SC PAR. Derraz, detained in Azerbaijan, is banned from leaving the country, while INTERPOL has been contacted to issue a ‘Red Notice’ against Benalla, indicating serious evidence held by the SSS. Benalla is currently subject to extradition proceedings in a third country.