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Russia’s former real estate tycoon Polonsky leaves Israel

Laywer: Polonsky felt threatend; destination not disclosed

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Konstantin Rodikov

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Konstantin Rodikov

MOSCOW, August 16 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s former real estate tycoon Sergei Polonsky, who is wanted on fraud charges, has left Israel for personal safety reasons, his lawyer, Diana Tatosova, said on Friday.

“Yes, I bear witness to the fact that Polonsky has flown out of Israel as there he faced a threat to his security,” she said.

The lawyer did not confirm or deny reports that Israeli authorities had denied him the country’s passport. Tatosova also did not disclose the businessman’s destination.

An Itar-Tass source close to the businessman said that Polonsky had recently considered moving from Israel to Thailand but had not yet made a final decision.

On Tuesday, Moscow’s Tverskoi District Court issued an arrest warrant for Polonsky in absentia. Polonsky is charged with fraud. In addition, the businessman has been put on the international wanted list.

The Investigation Department of the Russian Interior Ministry on July 14 in absentia brought against Sergei Polonsky charges of fraud during the construction of the Kutuzovskaya Milya housing complex. More than 80 citizens are recognised as the injured parties in the case. According to investigators, a company controlled by Polonsky received from the stakeholders about 5.7 billion roubles, but after that froze the construction, failing to fulfil the contract obligations. Then the company leadership initiated its premeditated bankruptcy and liquidation.

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