By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Patreon
BBC - The Times UK - Honduras - The Source
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 1 – As Inner City Press covered the OneCoin trial last Fall, a number of names of indicted co-conspirators emerged on which we continue following up.
One of them was Amer Abdulaziz Salman.
As Inner City Press exclusively reported on November 6, surprise cooperating witness Konstantin Ignatov brought up Amer Abdulaziz and Phoenix Thoroughbreds during his testimony, live-tweeted @InnerCityPress, and see here.
Then The Guardian, crediting Inner City Press, quotes the British Horseracing Association somewhat Casablanca-like: "In testimony live-tweeted by the investigative journalism website Inner City Press, Ignatov reportedly referred to Abdulaziz as “one of the main money launderers” involved in the scheme. Ignatov went on: “After he stole €100m from OneCoin, he started buying racehorses for, like, €25m.” The BHA said it was 'aware of the allegations which are emanating from a criminal case in the United States. We are in contact with the appropriate authorities.'"
These appropriate authorities presumably would include or even center on the Office of the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, whose spokesperson has while providing the Press with exhibits in Honduras and gang / 6ix9ine trial with its exhibits has continued to decline in this case.
But now, deep in the US' Mark Scott forfeiture memo dated August 31 but filed on September 1 is this: Scott "transferred tens of millions of Euros back to Bulgaria from the Fenero Funds, disguised as fake loans. (See, e.g., GX 1388). Scott subsequently transferred approximately €185,000,000 from the Bank of Ireland to the accounts of another one of Ruja’s money launderer’s, named Aamer Abdulaziz." See full filing on Patreon, here.
Why was this withheld until now? And why hasn't Abdulaziz been arrested? We will have more on this.
On August 11, 2020, The Guardian: "According to testimony live-tweeted by the investigative journalism website Inner City Press, Abdulaziz was called “one of the main money launderers."
For now we have reported that Phoenix Thoroughbreds has been banned from racing horses in France. Adbulaziz quickly put out a statement - in Australia, to 'reaffirm our-long term commitment to the racing and bloodstock industries in Australia. For any ownership group like ours, especially with breeding ambitions, having horses in Australia is a must. With its world-leading facilities, top-class trainers and levels of prize money, the market is a cornerstone of our business. The likes of Loving Gaby, Prague, homebred Farnan and others have given us plenty of reasons to smile over the past few years and we can’t wait to see how they progress this season. We also have some exciting youngsters that we hope can follow in their hoof prints. This coming breeding season we will be welcoming a record number of Phoenix Thoroughbreds-bred foals, all by top stallions such as I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Invader and The Autumn Sun, to name just a few. Couple this with the fact we still retain shares in Coolmore (Stud Stakes) winner and new stallion Exceedance, the future looks very bright as we look to build a legacy of success on the farm, in the sales ring and on the track. "We enjoy strong relations with our partners, who hold similar ambitions to ourselves, while the whole industry has been very supportive. We look forward to a long and prosperous future in Australia."
How is this possible, given what was shown in the OneCoin / Mark Scott trial and since? It is another impact of the doubly delayed docketing of information in that case and that of Gilbert Armenta, which Inner City Press got belatedly docketed last week. It is another reason why the blatant rip off of scoops by publications which don't follow up in the SDNY (now including Racing.com) allows those they are supposedly exposing to continue their frauds. We'll have more on this.
On November 24, 2019 Inner City Press
tweets were used without any credit in a derivative article by the Racing Post's Peter Scargill - apparently dodginess pervades this part of the industry.
Inner City Press has been contacted from Dubai of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, from Amer Abdulaziz's native Bahrain and elsewhere by whistleblowers in the horse racing industry, with extensive information about Amer Abdulaziz's previous schemes and sudden windfall with OneCoin money. See below.
Now Phoenix Thoroughbreds has tweeted a legal threat, as if media reporting based on sworn testimony a public trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York could be sued or silences or censored.
The tweet: "“Phoenix Fund Investments LLC categorically denies all allegations made against it, and its owner, Mr. Amer Abdulaziz, in legal proceedings against OneCoin and its conspirators in the US. “Phoenix Fund Investments LLC believes that the firm and Mr. Amer Abdulaziz have acted according to the law at all times, and will vigorously contest all allegations of wrongdoing. Phoenix Fund Investments LLC will fully cooperate with relevant authorities should they require any assistance. “Phoenix Fund Investments LLC is currently seeking legal advice and will take appropriate action against those involved in the publication of false and defamatory statements.”
Amer Abdulaziz was named by a sworn witness, Konstantin Ignatov, as being one of OneCoin's money launderers. And the defendant, Mark Scott, said this during his post-arrest statement:
SCOTT: "All the money that was not invested, umm, was at the direction of the investors, sent to, umm, another, umm, another financial advisor in Dubai. We have nothing to do anymore
Agent Fata: And who is that financial advisor?
Scott They’re called, we signed an agreement, the first agreement at the behest of the investors is called Phoenix something Investment Fund, I think just Phoenix. And then, umm, and I have the name of the guy that I dealt with, that I was directed to in my emails and what. I’m going to say, Amar [phonetic] something. You know…
Agent Eckel: So your, the, the Fenero funds were, were closed and transferred to Phoenix Investment Fund?
Scott: Yeah."
We'll have more on this.
Abdulaziz for example was outed as not paying for three horses, with it being for now still uncredited reported that Fasig-Tipton had not received payment for grade I winner Crisp and the broodmares Little Bonnet and Sky Mom, who were sold for more than $1.9 million combined... More on Patreon here.
Phoenix Thoroughbred's horses have included "Advertise," the son of Showcasing, set to begin a stallion career projected to be lucrative at the National Stud in New Market in 2020.
But is it all based on money laundering for OneCoin? And what of the royals who have been linked in, not only Queen Elizabeth through the Jockey Club but also the al Thani family of Qatar, the Saudi royals and the the Maktoum family of Dubai, whom some sources tell Inner City Press have harbored Ruja Ignatova herself . We'll have more on this. More on Patreon here.
"It's the perfect front for money laundering," one horse-breeding industry participant told Inner City Press on condition of anonymity.
During the trial, Inner City Press tweeted its surprise the Amer Abdulaziz was, unlike Ruja Ignatova, living in plain sight. It has continued: he has re-tweeted as recently as November 20.
While some say he is going into hiding, it would seem that the US FBI or its overseas partners could easily bring him in. So why haven't they? This is the fourth in an Inner City Press series. More on Patreon here.
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