Four bankers who allowed a friend of Vladimir Putin to deposit large sums of money in Swiss banks have been punished for lack of diligence.
The former head of the Zurich branch of Gazprombank Russia has been sentenced to seven months’ probation for helping musician Sergei Roldugin, nicknamed “Putin’s purse.”
Roldugin was reportedly paid US$50 million (£42 million) between 2014 and 2016.
He offered no credible explanation as to where the money had come from.
According to Swiss law, banks are required to reject or close an account if in doubt as to the account’s owner or the money’s origin. A cellist, Mr. Roldugin is godfather to President Putin’s eldest daughter, Maria.
Three of the bankers convicted were Russian, and one Swiss.
The people, who cannot be identified due to Swiss reporting restrictions, said they would appeal the Swiss court decision.
