The money laundering trial against cryptocurrency exchange Binance and two of its executives has been postponed until June 20 by a Nigerian court, due to the failure of one of the accused to appear in court.
Binance executives Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen and financial crimes compliance officer, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan national and regional director for Africa, are accused of laundering more than $35 million and have carried out specialized financial activities without a license.
Both have pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges.
In detention since February, Gambaryan is “seriously ill and requires intensive medical care,” his lawyer said in a letter to Judge Emeka Nwite. The letter states that Gambaryan collapsed the day before and received intravenous treatment for malaria.
Gambaryan, also charged with four counts of tax fraud with Binance and Anjarwalla, was absent from Wednesday's hearing.
Judge Nwite ordered that Gambaryan be treated at the hospital chosen by his lawyer or at another facility recommended by prison authorities. The trial will resume on June 20 and 21.
Nigeria has blamed Binance for its monetary woes, with cryptocurrency platforms becoming the preferred means of trading the Nigerian naira as the country faces a chronic shortage of dollars and a historic devaluation of his currency.
