A Nigerian court has denied the parole application of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who relied on health concerns. The court directed the prison to refer him to a hospital for treatment.
Bloomberg reports that on October 11, Judge Emeka Nwite of Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja denied Gambaryan’s parole application.
According to reports, Nwite directed that the Binance executive should remain in prison despite his deteriorating health, as such a condition “does not entitle them [prisoners] to leave custody.”
The judge reportedly stated that Gambaryan would be permitted to depart only if the “continuous stay of the detainee possesses a harm to others and quarantine is not available.”
The decision did not “surprise” Gambaryan’s family
Gambaryan has been incarcerated at Kuje prison in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, since his apprehension in February.
Despite his numerous assertions regarding his deteriorating health, Gambaryan maintains his innocence.
Gambaryan’s family reported that he was unable to walk as a result of an unresolved herniated disc or spinal injury in August.
However, the court has consistently directed Gambaryan to remain in custody until the case’s final resolution.
Nigerian EFCC Says Gambaryan’s Health Issue is”not as severe”
Gambaryan’s attorney, Mark Mordi, insisted that his client’s health is “perilous” and requested a six-week bond to enable him to obtain the necessary medical care outside of prison.
According to Mordi, Gambaryan necessitated psychiatric care for depression and anxiety, as well as surgery for a herniated disc.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria, which is prosecuting the Binance executive for alleged money laundering in his capacity as a Binance executive, has consistently disputed the Gambaryan’s health claims.
Ekele Iheanacho, the senior prosecutor of the EFCC, contended in September that the executive’s attorneys had exaggerated the severity of Gambaryan’s condition.
He maintained that Gambaryan’s health concerns were “not as severe” as his attorneys had suggested, and he was able to receive treatment while incarcerated at Kuje Correctional Facility.
Gambaryan’s family and defense continue to allege that Nigeria neglected his health.
Nigeria’s State House Annex Clinic in September alleged that Gambaryan declined to take prescribed medications and food when a neurosurgeon attended to him in July, according to a report by Nairametrics.
Mordi, Gambaryan’s attorney, reportedly maintained that Nigeria cannot effectively manage Gambaryan’s health issues in response to those allegations.
“A spokesperson for Gambaryan’s family informed that the Judge has ordered Tigran to be taken to the hospital on multiple occasions; however,
this has only occurred once, and it took approximately three hours to conduct laboratory tests.”
There was a delay of several months in disseminating those test results. Rarely does the prison adhere to the judge’s orders regarding these matters. The representative stated that no hospital was defined, and he also added:
“Several doctors including the prison’s own doctor have clearly reported that Tigran requires medical help that the prison cannot provide.”
Gambaryan’s bond rejection occurred just a few days after Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, was released from prison in the United States on September 27.
The former CEO was sentenced to four months for anti-money laundering violations instead of the 36 months that the US Department of Justice had initially requested.
