The daughters of Azerbaijan’s president agreed to buy a £60m London property using a secret offshore company, in a case potentially carrying “a significant risk of money laundering”, a tribunal has heard. Sharif – a senior partner with the London firm Child & Child – admitted failing to carry out money-laundering checks and breaching his professional code. A close associate of the president, Javad Marandi, introduced the Aliyeva sisters to Child & Child, the tribunal was told. President Aliyev has ruled Azerbaijan since 2003. Leaked US diplomatic cables suggest President Aliyev is Azerbaijan’s richest person.

Source: The Guardian December 21, 2018 06:56 UTC