FBI raids homes linked to Russian oligarch with Putin ties


Ellie Sennett
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Federal Bureau of Investigation agents on Tuesday searched a luxury Washington mansion and a New York property with links to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire under US sanctions who once employed Paul Manafort, chairman of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Two sources familiar with the investigation told Reuters the US Attorney's office in Manhattan, also known as the Southern District of New York, is leading the probe related to Mr Deripaska, a metals industry magnate with Kremlin ties.

The raids were being carried out on the basis of two court warrants related to US sanctions, an FBI representative said, and added that Mr Deripaska was not the owner of the houses.

“The FBI really is searching houses that are owned by Deripaska’s family members,” the representative said.

The US imposed sanctions in 2018 on Mr Deripaska, a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Announcing the sanctions, the Treasury Department said Mr Deripaska has been investigated for money laundering, extortion and racketeering.

“There are also allegations that Deripaska bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman and had links to a Russian organised crime group,” the Treasury Department said.

Mr Deripaska filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the Treasury Department, accusing it of illegally targeting him with sanctions, but the suit was tossed out this year by a federal judge.

Washington has previously dropped sanctions against his two main companies, aluminium producer Rusal and its parent, En+ Group, but has kept them in force on Mr Deripaska.

Yellow tape blocked off the $15 million mansion located in Washington’s wealthy Kalorama neighbourhood, where the likes of Amazon's Jeff Bezos and former president Barack Obama have homes.

An FBI agent mans his post as the US law enforcement agency conducted a raid at Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska's home in Washington. Reuters
An FBI agent mans his post as the US law enforcement agency conducted a raid at Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska's home in Washington. Reuters

Some locals drove by and snapped pictures from their cars as federal officers transported bins in and out of the property, and unsuspecting dog walkers stumbled around local police cars assisting with security at the scene.

Property records list the mansion's owner as Hestia International LLC in Delaware, a state known for being a US tax haven.

The Russian citizen is also a known associate of Paul Manafort, Mr Trump's former campaign manager and among the first people to be charged in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, which examined possible co-ordination between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Manafort was convicted of eight financial crimes as part of the Mueller investigation, but was later pardoned by Mr Trump.

Court documents revealed after Mr Deripaska sued Mr Manafort that he lent the Trump adviser $10m and paid him for consulting services in Ukraine.

Another Russian associate of Mr Trump's found himself in hot water on Monday: Lev Parnas has been charged with breaking campaign finance laws.

Agencies contributed to this report

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Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

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Brief scores:

Day 1

Toss: South Africa, field first

Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48

South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4

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Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

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Best European Player: Adam Wardzinski (Poland)

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Best African Player: Walter Dos Santos (Angola)

Best Oceanian Player: Lee Ting (Australia)

Best South American Player: Gabriel De Sousa (Brazil)

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Disposing of non-recycleable masks
    Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home Do not put them in a recycling bin Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
  • No need to bag the mask
LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

Stoke City v Tottenham

Brentford v Newcastle United

Arsenal v Manchester City

Everton v Manchester United

All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.

Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Updated: October 19, 2021, 9:56 PM