Businessman facing US extradition for alleged role in helping Russian oligarch evade sanctions

A businessman suspected of aiding a Russian oligarch to evade Government sanctions in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine has appeared in court. 

Graham Bonham-Carter, from Ewhurst, near Guildford, Surrey, is alleged to have assisted sanctioned Russian national, Oleg Deripaska, by concealing the ownership of Mr Deripaska’s properties in Westminster. 

Following an extradition request from the US, Mr Bonham-Carter subsequently appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court and was released on conditional bail. 

The case against him is being brought by the National Crime Agency’s Combatting Kleptocracy Cell (CKC), which works to disrupt the activities of corrupt international business figures. 

NCA general operations director Steve Rodhouse said: “Oligarchs seeking to evade sanctions rely on skilled professionals to help them hide their true ownership of assets and sustain their lifestyles.   

“This criminality exploits global financial flows and hubs including the UK, and requires a collaborative international response.”

A billionaire industrialist, Mr Deripaska was sanctioned by the UK for his association with the Government of Russia and Putin, and for controlling a business in the Russian extractives and energy sector. This resulted in a full UK asset freeze and travel ban. 

Mr Bonham-Carter, 62, who is the second cousin of the actress Helena Bonham-Cousin, is believed to be linked to Mr Deripaska through a number of high-value properties in the United States and in the UK – all suspected to be ultimately held for Mr Deripaksa’s benefit.  

It is suspected that the true ownership of these properties is concealed through the use of complicated ownership structures and firms registered in the British Virgin Islands and other overseas jurisdictions. 

Working with colleagues at HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and HM Land Registry, the NCA has previously ensured that Mr Deripaska’s two London properties were included in the list of assets frozen by the sanctions designation.  

Those properties, a mansion in Belgrave Square and a private office in Cleveland Row next to St James’s Palace, are estimated to be collectively worth more than £50m. 

In March this year, the NCA secured two account freezing orders in respect of bank accounts held by Mr Bonham-Carter.  

These orders were obtained on the basis that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the money in the accounts (approximately £110,000) was derived from the laundering of funds belonging to Mr Deripaska, who was sanctioned by the US at the time. 

Mr Bonham-Carter’s next court date is December 12. 

Pictured top: NCA headquarters (Picture: Philafrenzy)