Binance’s head of economic crime compliance Tigran Gambaryan reportedly pleaded not responsible to cash laundering expenses in a Nigerian excessive court docket on Monday earlier than he was remanded pending trial.
Regardless of Binance saying Gambaryan had no decision-making energy on the firm, presiding choose for the case reportedly dominated he may be thought of a consultant of the corporate beneath Nigerian legislation.
Binance government Tigran Gambaryan, who was detained by Nigerian authorities in February alongside a colleague, pleaded not responsible to cash laundering expenses at a excessive court docket on Monday, native retailers reported.
Gambaryan was remanded till trial, in line with studies, whereas bail may be requested till April 18.
The top of Binance’s monetary crime compliance was detained within the nation together with one other government on the firm, Nadeem Anjarwalla, again in February amid accusations by Nigeria’s authorities that Binance had helped course of unlawful funds price billions of {dollars} and that it had manipulated the alternate fee for the Nigerian naira.
In March, Anjarwalla escaped custody and, since then, the 2 executives have filed swimsuit in opposition to the Nigerian authorities accusing it of violating human rights.
Nigeria’s Federal Inland Income Service (FIRS) has accused Binance, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla of tax evasion, whereas the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has accused the identical events of laundering cash.
Regardless of Binance’s assertion final week urging Gambaryan shouldn’t be held liable for the corporate as a result of he would not have any desicion-making energy, a Nigerian choose allowed the swimsuit to proceed, studies mentioned.
Justice Emeka Nwite reportedly argued that Gambaryan and Anjarwalla had previously engaged with officers within the nation relating to the crypto alternate’s operations, and subsequently might go as representatives of the agency.
Gambaryan reportedly pleaded not responsible to 5 counts together with one alleging that he, Anjarwalla and Binance used the crypto alternate to “unlawfully negotiate international alternate charges in Nigeria and also you thereby dedicated an offense opposite to and punishable beneath part 29(1) (C) of the International Alternate (Monitoring And Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.”
CoinDesk has reached out to Binance and Nigeria’s Federal Excessive Courtroom for remark.