Gambaryan, detained since February, struggled to walk after being denied a wheelchair by prison authorities
ABUJA, Nigeria, Tuesday, September 03, 2024- Tigran Gambaryan, the top executive at cryptocurrency exchange Binance, pleaded for help in an Abuja courtroom on Monday, citing severe health problems, reports said.
Reports said that Gambaryan, detained since February, struggled to walk after being denied a wheelchair by prison authorities.
He suffers from malaria, pneumonia, and complications from a herniated disc.
Despite these conditions, Nigerian prosecutors opposed his bail application on medical grounds, arguing that he has refused treatment.
Gambaryan, who previously served as Binance’s head of financial crime compliance and a former U.S. Internal Revenue Service agent, was initially placed under house arrest but was transferred to Kuje prison after a colleague escaped.
While the tax evasion charges against him were dropped, Gambaryan continues to face serious money laundering accusations.
His case has attracted international attention, with concerns over his deteriorating health. His family has urgently called for his release, fearing further decline in his condition.
Notably, former U.S. federal agents have appealed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to intervene, but the U.S. government has yet to make a public statement on the situation.
Gambaryan’s legal battle has been marked by setbacks, including the denial of bail on his 40th birthday in May.
