Azerbaijan court reduces sentence of French business executive in bribery case

The Baku Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Anass Derraz, vice-president of French water services company SAUR, from 12 years to 9 years following an appeal by the defendant.

Derraz and former head of the French presidential security service, Alexandre Benalla, are accused of demanding a large bribe from Russian billionaire of Azerbaijani origin Farhad Ahmadov in exchange for assistance in lifting restrictions on his luxury yacht Luna and helping him avoid international sanctions, Caliber.Az reports per local media. 

According to case materials, the alleged agreement involved a total payment of $6.14 million. In November 2018, Ahmadov is said to have transferred $200,000 to Derraz’s account and $400,000 to Benalla’s account, with a further $5.54 million to be paid within 15 days after the yacht’s release. A consultancy contract was also signed between the parties.

Derraz is accused of facilitating Benalla’s receipt of the alleged funds.

Benalla, a former close aide to the French presidency, has been placed on an international wanted list under an Interpol red notice.

By Sabina Mammadli