Inquest into Russian millionaire’s death delayed over US intelligence

THE inquest into the mysterious death of a Russian millionaire has been delayed over ongoing efforts to extract intelligence from the United States.

Businessman Alexander Perepilichnyy, 44,

collapsed and died while jogging near his home in Weybridge, Surrey, in 2012.

Over the past year, Coroner Nicholas Hilliard QC has been examining whether he was murdered with poison or died of natural causes.

Mr Perepilichnyy had been helping UK-based campaigner Bill Browder’s Hermitage Capital Investment to expose a $230m money-laundering operation. And, a month before his death, he had fought off a legal challenge by a debt recovery firm allegedly led by a prime suspect in the Alexander Litvinenko poison case. Interested parties, including life insurers Legal & General, Hermitage, widow Tatiana Perepilichnaya and Surrey Police, were due to make closing submissions next Tuesday at the Old Bailey. But the solicitor for the coroner announced a delay until June 27, citing US government disclosure and the Home Secretary’s review into 14 deaths allegedly linked to the Russian state. Lawyer Tim Suter said the reason for the postponement was “because the Home Secretary’s review had not yet concluded and due to ongoing negotiations with the government of the United States about the disclosure of information relevant to the coroner’s investigation”.

In a letter published online, he said: “It is with considerable regret that the coroner has reached the view that it will not be possible, in the time available, to conclude the outstanding inquiries and to consider any public interest immunity (PII) applications that may be made to him as a result.”

Under PII, the Government can request that sensitive documents are not aired publicly in court to protect the “national interest”.

A hearing at the Old Bailey on June 27 is expected to deal with any such applications before the coroner.