- Tigran Gambaryan has collapsed in a Nigerian courtroom, suspected of contracting malaria and a severe throat infection
- Gambaryan’s trial for tax evasion and money laundering has been halted due to his illness
- The executive has remained in prison without being taken to a hospital, according to his family spokesman
Binance’s imprisoned compliance executive Tigran Gambaryan is suspected of having contracted malaria and a severe throat infection after collapsing in a Nigerian courtroom last week. Gambaryan’s trial for tax evasion and money laundering was halted after the American fell ill, although a spokesman for Gambaryan’s family told Coindesk that he still hadn’t been taken to hospital and that he remains in prison.
Trial Adjourned Twice
Gambaryan’s trial began on 17 May, two and a half months after his arrest alongside the exchange’s Africa chief Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped, although he is included in the money laundering charges. The pair were invited by Nigerian authorities to resolve a dispute that the government has with Binance, but the pair were detained after a meeting with government officials, leading the pair being held responsible for Binance’s alleged indiscretions.
Gambaryan’s trial was adjourned following this inclusion of new evidence and was halted again last week when the defendant fell ill, although a family spokesman told Coindesk that he is not being treated fairly:
Despite a court order from Justice Emeka Nwite issued on Thursday, May 23, Tigran Gabaryan has still not been moved to hospital from Kuje prison. It has not yet officially been ascertained what he is suffering from given that the medical facilities at Kuje are inadequate. It is suspected that he has a severe throat infection and Malaria.
Gambaryan’s wife called his treatment “inhumane” and called for his safe return:
Tigran does not deserve such inhumane treatment. He has done nothing wrong and is suffering simply because he accepted an invitation to a meeting in Abuja. This has gone too far. I am begging everyone who can help, including our own American government, to recognize that an innocent man’s life is at risk. Please, at least let him go to the hospital so he can recover. But more importantly, let him come home to us.
The executive is due back in court on June 14 to resume his defense of the charges against him.
