Jailed Binance exec still awaits medical care despite court order
Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained for three months, has malaria and a throat infection, according to his wife.
Tigran Gambaryan, the 40-year-old American citizen and Binance executive detained in Nigeria for three months, remains in Kuje prison despite a court order for his transfer to a medical facility.
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Driving the news
- Last week, Gambaryan became unwell during a court hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria. Following this incident, Justice Emeka Nwite honored a request for the Binance man’s transfer from Kuje prison to a medical facility for treatment.
- His family believes that he is suffering from “a severe throat infection and malaria.” His wife, Yuki, is appealing to Nigerian authorities to comply with the court’s directive.
A statement from his wife, shared by Mariblock, reads:
“My husband’s physical and mental health is seriously deteriorating. I am devastated and shocked that, despite the court's clear directive for his admission to a hospital, the authorities have not allowed him to leave the very prison causing his illness. Tigran does not deserve such inhumane treatment.”
Go deeper
Binance’s legal representatives in the ongoing trial had written a letter to the deputy chief registrar of the Federal High Court, requesting the provision of medical treatment to Gambaryan.
The letter, seen by Mariblock, reads:
“Please be informed that the 2nd defendant, who is an American citizen and remanded at the Kuje Medium Correctional Facility is very ill and requires comprehensive medical attention at the best available hospital within the jurisdiction of this honorable court.
“The applicant broke down yesterday and the medical facility gave him Intravenous (IV) treatment for malaria.
“The Consul Officer at the United States Consul Office in Abuja emphasized the need for the applicant to receive comprehensive treatment because malaria is a severe disease for American citizens which can result in death because they do not have the immunity that ordinary Nigerians have against the disease.”
The court granted the request, but Mariblock understands that Mr. Gambaryan remains in Kuje prison.
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that travelers going to Nigeria take prescription medicine to prevent malaria.
Backstory
Gambaryan and Binance are currently facing charges ranging from tax evasion to money laundering.
- On May 17, the court ruled that the court ruled that Binance could be served with the FIRS tax evasion charge through Gambaryan despite him not being an officer of the company.
- Justice Nwite also denied a bail request on the same day, ruling that the Binance employee was a flight risk.
