Binance’s head of financial crimes compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, has been denied bail by a Nigerian judge.
Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan Denied Bail in Nigeria Due to Deteriorating Health
Gambaryan has been detained in Nigeria since February and is currently being held in Kuje prison, which houses dangerous prisoners including members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Gambaryan was arrested alongside Binance employee Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped custody in March. Initially charged with tax evasion and money laundering, Gambaryan’s tax-related charges were dropped, but the money laundering charges remain.
The court decision on bail was postponed in September and Gambaryan's legal team made a new request, citing his rapidly deteriorating health.
Gambaryan has needed surgery since July and suffers from a number of health problems, including malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis and a herniated disc that has left him wheelchair-bound, according to his lawyer Mark Mordi.
But Gambaryan was seen struggling with a single crutch rather than using a wheelchair during a recent court appearance, raising further concerns about his condition.
Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, expressed her disappointment in the situation. “It is completely unfair to deny someone in Tigran’s situation the opportunity to seek proper medical attention.
“I pray that when he is finally released, the damage he has suffered will not be permanent,” she said. Despite her exhaustion and disappointment, Yuki vowed to continue fighting for her husband’s release.
*This is not investment advice.
