The vice-president of a French company, Anass Derraz, detained by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, gave testimony in court

Another court hearing was held on the criminal case initiated by the State Security Service (SSS) against Anass Derraz, vice president of the French company SAUR, accused of receiving bribes on an especially large scale and other crimes.

As Oxu.Az reports, today at the trial in the Baku Court of Serious Crimes, presided over by Judge Farid Namazov, the accused gave testimony.

He said that he came to Azerbaijan on a business trip.

"I came to invest in Azerbaijan's water infrastructure. On the second day of my arrival in the country, I gave testimony at the administrative building of the SSS. I am accused of passive corruption and participation in the legalization of property obtained through criminal means. Regarding the incident, I can say that in October 2022, I was contacted by Farhad Akhmedov's office. Due to his divorce from his wife, the London court made a decision to freeze his assets. Therefore, F.Akhmedov approached me to resolve other legal issues related to the calculation of the annual expenses of $16 million for his yacht worth $500 million. He had heard about my activities as a consultant and contacted me. At that time, I was managing projects worth several billion at Viola company. I was known for my ability to competently solve very complex issues. We signed contracts with Farhad Akhmedov, and I was going to help them with legal issues. F.Akhmedov also gave me power of attorney to handle his affairs. I request that it be added to the case materials," he said.

The court stated that the document has been added to the case materials.

Further, A.Derraz stated that, according to this power of attorney, he was F.Akhmedov's strategic consultant on issues related to his yacht Luna.

"I was a strategic consultant and team leader, and performed procedures related to the yacht on behalf of F.Akhmedov. My task was to oversee legal procedures," he noted.

A.Derraz also added that he would like to respond to the accusations separately.

"The amount of the advance I mentioned earlier was $200,000. If I had managed to lift the arrest, he would have paid me $2 million. We compared this amount with an asset worth $500 million. We tried to quickly eliminate the problem, as for technical reasons, the value of the yacht was falling every day. At the time of signing the contract, Benalla had already been dismissed from the administration of French President Macron, and an investigation was being conducted in France regarding Benalla. Farhad Akhmedov told me about Benalla, that he supported his wife in her affairs, was a professional in his work, and had good connections in Dubai. F.Akhmedov also indicated this in his testimony. I simply worked with Farhad Akhmedov, helped them, and provided information," he added.

The process has been postponed for the translation of documents attached to the case from English.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 11.

Recall that the former head of the French President's Security Service, Alexandre Benalla, and SAUR Vice President Anass Derraz are accused of receiving a large bribe and other criminal acts in 2018 in exchange for the cancellation of international sanctions against the assets of Azerbaijani billionaire with Russian citizenship Farhad Akhmedov.

In articles previously published in foreign and local press on this case, it is noted that French officials demanded a bribe from Farhad Akhmedov, promising in return to free his luxury yacht Luna, worth about $500 million, from international arrest and to protect him from sanctions.

According to information, Akhmedov transferred part of the multi-million dollar bribe to Derraz's account at AL HILAL BANK and to Benalla's account at BANK OF AFRICA UNITED KINGDOM PLC SC PAR.

Anass Derraz was held accountable in Azerbaijan with a ban on leaving the country, and a request was sent to Interpol for an international search for Alexandre Benalla.

The SSS of AR has charged Anass Derraz under Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means, committed on a large scale) and 32.5,311.3.3 (complicity in receiving a bribe on a large scale) of the Criminal Code of AR.

Anass Derraz has been charged under Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means - committed on a significant scale) and 32.5, 311.3.3 (receiving a bribe (passive bribery) - committed on a large scale) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

A preventive measure in the form of a written undertaking not to leave has been chosen against him.