Jan Marsalek, a fugitive from Wirecard, allegedly headed a Russian spy ring in the UK.
Jan Marsalek, the ex-chief operating officer of Wirecard, allegedly served as a spymaster, providing instructions to five Bulgarians charged in the UK with spying for Russia. The allegation was made by prosecutors at a London court on Wednesday. The five individuals arrested under the Official Secrets Act included Orlin Roussev, Bizer Dzhambazov, Katrin Ivanova, Ivan Stoyanov, and Vanya Gaberova. They were detained in separate prisons. The accusations stem from surveillance activities designed to aid Russia in conducting hostile actions against specific targets in the UK. Potential targets included kidnappings, according to the prosecutors.
Marsalek disappeared in 2020 amidst accusations of fraud and misrepresentation at Wirecard, kicking off the "Fraud Trial of the Century" in Germany. Started as an online payment processor for the gambling and pornography industries, Wirecard rose to become the leader of the German fintech sector with a $28 billion market cap. However, its status was shattered with the sudden discovery of a $2 billion hole on its balance sheet.
Austrian national Marsalek is currently on trial in Munich for charges including market manipulation and gang-related fraud. German prosecutors maintained that Marsalek, former CEO Markus Braun, and others manipulated financial records and fabricated revenue streams to make a failing business seem profitable.
Marsalek reportedly fled Germany on June 23, 2020, weeks after Wirecard's collapse. He had booked a flight to Manila, claiming he was searching for the missing billions. However, it later emerged that someone had forged immigration records in Manila, suggesting Marsalek had in fact traveled to Minsk, Belarus, and eventually Moscow, where he continues to reside under the protection of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence.
Intelligence agencies have discovered that Marsalek, who is now one of the world's most wanted criminals, has been leading a secret double life. He regularly traveled to Russia before Wirecard's collapse, utilizing a variety of passports, including a diplomatic one. British prosecutors claim that the leader of the Bulgarian cell in the UK, Orlin Roussev, received direct orders from Marsalek.
The five suspects are set to appear at the Old Bailey, London's Central Criminal Court, on October 13th. Marsalek has not yet been officially charged in connection with this case.
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Source: www.casino.org
