Secrecy ruling on Russian tycoon’s inquest details

SENSITIVE “material” that could reveal if a Russian millionaire was working with British spies before he died will not be made public at his inquest, a coroner has ruled.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid lodged a secrecy application at the inquest into the death of Alexander Perepilichnyy citing national security concerns.

The 44-year-old collapsed and died while jogging near his home in Weybridge, Surrey, in November 2012.

Lawyers acting for life insurers Legal and General told the Old Bailey the businessman could have been “rubbed out” if he was working for British spies and that evidence of any links to UK intelligence services could show he was in “special danger”.

As part of the inquest MI5 and MI6 have been asked if they have any information relating to threats to Mr Perepilichnyy in the year before he died or any “third-party involvement” in his death.

Andrew O’Connor QC, for the government, said the disclosure of any sensitive material raised a “real risk of serious harm to one or more public interests”.

Coroner Nicholas Hilliard QC heard details of Mr Javid’s public interest immunity (PII) application in private in June.

In a written ruling, the coroner said the documents in question are not required for the inquest.

“(The PII material’s relevance) is so marginal and/or minimal as to mean that it will afford me no assistance,” he said.

Mr Hilliard has been examining whether the wealthy businessman was murdered with poison or died of natural causes.