A Russian businessman was found guilty on Tuesday of ordering the high-profile murder of a top Russian central banker who led a clampdown on money-laundering and corruption. The state prosecutor said Alexei Frenkel, former head of a small Russian bank, had acted out of revenge when he ordered the killing of Andrei Kozlov, a 41-year-old deputy head of Russia's central bank who had revoked his banks' licences.
Kozlov was shot dead in September 2006 as he left an amateur soccer match in Moscow. It was one of the highest-profile killings of then President Vladimir Putin's presidency, reviving memories of Russia's wild capitalism and contract killings of the 1990s.
The jury found Frenkel guilty of ordering Kozlov's killing after deliberations of more than five hours at the Moscow City Court. Along with Frenkel, there are six other people on trial. Kozlov in a crusade against money-laundering and corruption revoked the licences of dozens of banks, including Frenkel's, the court was told. "The motive for the crime was revenge," said state prosecutor Gulchekhra Ibragimova, adding Frenkel's had lost four of the banks he controlled due to Kozlov's tough actions.
"Kozlov was an enemy of such shady dealers like Frenkel," she told journalists outside the court. "I believe the verdict is just," she added. Frenkel, who strongly denied all accusations, had ordered a driver to pick him up at the court, apparently confident he would be acquitted, Russian media reported.
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