Brazil Orders Berezovsky Arrest

Boris Berezovsky is an outspoken critic of President Putin

http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=1003

A Brazilian judge has ordered Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky to be arrested following money-laundering allegations linked to a Sao Paulo football club. The judge also ordered the arrest of two of Mr Berezovsky’s associates, including Kia Joorabchian whose MSI company has a major stake in the team.

Defence lawyers have denied any wrongdoing at the Corinthians club.

Mr Berezovsky, who lives in exile in the UK, said the warrant stemmed from the Kremlin’s actions against him.

Brazilian federal judge Faustus Martins de Sanctis on Thursday ordered the arrest of Mr Berezovsky, Mr Joorabchian and a third associate, Nojan Bedroud.

The case centres on the financing at Corinthians, in which Mr Joorabchian’s Media Sports Investment (MSI) is a major investor.The allegation is that MSI used its investment in the club to launder tainted money from overseas.

Four people at the club, Alberto Dualib, Nesi Curi, Renato Duprat and Paulo Angioni, have also been accused of involvement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6897509.stm

2007-07-13