Trader sued by mother had ‘come-to-Jesus’ moment, judge told
Tatiana Akhmedova is owed £450 million by her Russian billionaire ex-husband Farkhad Akhmedov and claims son Temur has helped hide assets.
A London trader who has been sued by his mother after becoming embroiled in his parents’ £450 million divorce battle has had a “last-minute, come-to-Jesus moment” and told the truth, a judge has heard.
Tatiana Akhmedova, 48, is trying to get her hands on £450 million she is owed by her Russian billionaire ex-husband, Farkhad Akhmedov, 65, following the breakdown of their marriage.
She says her ex-husband has hidden assets and has accused their 27-year-old son, Temur Akhmedov, of acting as his father’s “lieutenant”.
A judge began considering allegations that Temur had helped hide assets at a public trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Monday.
She was told that Temur had provided a new witness statement in which he admitted having breached a court order, relating to the disclosure of information, but said he was now giving a “truthful account”.
But a barrister leading Ms Akhmedov’s legal team said Temur was still not telling the truth.
Alan Gourgey QC described Temur as a “compulsive liar” and said he was “continuing to lie”
Both Ms Akhmedova and Temur are due to give evidence.
The trial should have started on Wednesday but was delayed after the judge was told that Temur was in Russia.
Temur told the judge, via a video link, that he had become scared and stressed.
Mrs Justice Knowles ordered him to travel to London and attend the trial to give evidence.
Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, who oversaw a hearing in London, said Ms Akhmedova should walk away with £453 million – the award is thought to be the biggest of its kind made in Britain.
But judges have heard that she has so far pocketed about £5 million and that Mr Akhmedov has not “voluntarily” paid a penny.
Ms Akhmedova says Mr Akhmedov has tried to put assets beyond her reach and she has taken legal action in Britain and abroad in a bid to get hold of what she is owed.
Mr Akhmedov says because he and his ex-wife are not British and were not married in Britain, a British judge should not have made a decision.
Ms Akhmedova has already become embroiled in litigation with a number of trusts based in Liechtenstein, into which Mr Akhmedov has transferred assets.
Mrs Justice Knowles had been told how Mr Akhmedov had transferred a super-yacht, the Luna, worth around £340 million, and an art collection, worth around £110 million, into the ownership of trusts in Liechtenstein.
