Deloitte accountants helped to falsify documents to hide Roman Abramovich’s wealth and help him evade tax, according to an investigation by BBC Panorama and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
Leaks of corporate records (some 500,000 documents) show a long-running and carefully orchestrated strategy of backdating documents.
It is alleged that accounts signed off by Deloitte Cyprus meant assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars simply disappeared from Abramovich’s company accounts. And, emails seem to show Deloitte Cyprus staff took part in discussions about disappearing documents.
The Big 4 firms also appear to have given advice on a scheme to evade a huge tax bill on Abramovich’s wealth, using false paperwork.
Abramovich’s lawyers said he denies hiding assets and tax evasion.
Deloitte Cyprus also said it “acts in compliance with all applicable laws”.
