Crime Solicitors

The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) has jailed a bank official who accepted more than £2 million in bribes in return for approving large loans.

Andrey Ryjenko, 44, was convicted of conspiring to make or accept corrupt payments following a five-week trial at the Old Bailey.

The trial heard that Ryjenko – who has joint UK and Russian citizenship – was employed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in a role which required him to consider equity investment and loan applications from firms.

He accepted bribes totalling more than $3.5 million between July 2008 and November 2009, which were paid into bank accounts in the name of his sister, Tatjana Sanderson.

Ms Sanderson was declared unfit to stand trial, but the jury considered her role under a “trial of fact” and decided she was involved in the corruption.

Andrey Ryjenko was convicted of conspiring to make and accept corrupt payments, as well as concealing, disguising, converting and transferring criminal property (money laundering).

He was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiring to make and accept corrupt payments – and two years (concurrently) for concealing, disguising, converting and transferring criminal property.

Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, Elspeth Pringle, said:

“Andrey Ryjenko repeatedly abused his position of power within a publicly-funded bank by accepting corrupt payments.

“Despite his efforts to disguise his crimes, the prosecution was able to present a compelling case to the jury, resulting in his conviction and today's jail sentence.

“This conviction was made possible through effective cross-border partnerships between a number of jurisdictions, including the United States.”

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