…as charges forming the basis of the Diffusion Notice are deemed extortive
Tinashe Makichi
HARARE – Zunaid Moti’s legal team is challenging a Diffusion Notice issued by Russian authorities against the businessman which led to his provisional arrest at Munich Airport, Germany last week.
Moti’s legal representatives in Germany, Russia and South Africa are raising questions about the validity and execution of the Diffusion Notice. The Regional High Court in Munich is expected to pronounce on the matter within the next few days.
The Africa Chrome Minerals owner was placed under provisional arrest by German Authorities when he attempted to leave Germany through Munich airport on August 19, 2018.
Moti’s detention comes pursuant to a Diffusion Notice issued by Russian Authorities on January 24, 2018, which notice has not been authorised and vetted by Interpol’s General Secretariat, according to a statement by the Moti Group.
Since August 2017, Moti has been subject to a litany of spurious and fraudulent claims made by a known member of the Russian Mafia, presently resident in Dubai.
“Notwithstanding a directive by the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files on December 15, 2017 that all data on Interpol’s systems relating to Moti was to be blocked, the Diffusion Notice was issued by Russian Authorities in a manner that circumvented the CCF’s directive and the General Secretariat’s control measures in respect of the publication of data.
“It has since come to light that on the very day that the CCF issued its blocking order, Moti was named in the aforesaid Diffusion Notice,” said Moti Group in a statement.
“The alleged charges that form the basis of the Diffusion Notice are evidently a complete fabrication and part of a continued stratagem adopted by the Russian Mafia to extort payment by Moti of substantial sums of money.
The Diffusion Notice was issued to various countries – including South Africa, the UK, Switzerland and Zimbabwe all in which Moti has travelled extensively and without impediment over the past 12 months.
Although Swiss Authorities did not wish to commit themselves, the statement noted that it appears from official documents in possession of the German Authorities that Switzerland, as a matter of principle, does not act on Diffusion Notices, given its frequent abuse by the criminal underworld and lack of oversight by Interpol’s General Secretariat.
