#ManafortTrial Thread - (1/3)
Gates also told prosecutors how he collaborated with Kypros Chrysostomides, a Cyprus lawyer, to open accounts Manafort would one day use to funnel his earnings offshore.
Gates also told prosecutors how he collaborated with Kypros Chrysostomides, a Cyprus lawyer, to open accounts Manafort would one day use to funnel his earnings offshore.
Chrysostomides, known as “Dr. K”, helped Manafort establish points of contact at the Bank of Cyprus and Marfin Popular Bank, Gates said.
Before 2012, Manafort often kept his name listed on records connected to the accounts that Dr. K established.
Before 2012, Manafort often kept his name listed on records connected to the accounts that Dr. K established.
But when Manafort learned he was being targeted in a lawsuit in Ukraine, he asked Gates to have his name removed from any account information.
“Why would he do this?” Andres said.
“Why would he do this?” Andres said.
Gates said Manafort told him he wanted the information removed so “individuals could not find information on him or who paid him.”
Gates eventually had his name removed from the bank records as well, he said.
Gates eventually had his name removed from the bank records as well, he said.
When a banking collapse gripped Cyrpus in 2012, Dr. K told Manafort and Gates it was time to open new accounts elsewhere, Gates said.
This time the funds would be routed through St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Manafort and Gates opened only two accounts there for Manafort’s shell companies Global Endeavor and Junette.
Manafort and Gates opened only two accounts there for Manafort’s shell companies Global Endeavor and Junette.
As they had done with other accounts, Gates said Konstantin Kiliminik became the point of contact with the bank.
Gates also offered prosecutors a peek into how he and Manafort created “dummy” invoices for various vendors including SP and C, the company which renovated Manafort’s Bridgehampton, New York home, Alan Couture – Manafort’s clothier – New Leaf Landscaping, House of Bijan et al.
“I created the invoice based on information Mr. Manafort gave me,” Gates said, explaining that when Manafort wanted an invoice made, the two of them would pull most of the details from an authentic invoice to use as a template.
One of the “invoices” displayed in court Tuesday was for Alan Couture totaling $42,000. Gates said the invoice was actually a front for wire transfers from Global Endeavor.
Building on their strategy to show Manafort as ringleader in the fraud, prosecutors were careful to have Gates confirm who signed off the fabricated bills and who gave Gates permission to sign off wire transfer agreements.
It was Manafort, Gates said repeatedly.
Andres displayed an email from February 2016 from Manafort to Gates and asked him to read it aloud.
Andres displayed an email from February 2016 from Manafort to Gates and asked him to read it aloud.
“I need you to sign my name to another document,” Gates read Manafort’s email from a computer monitor. “Usually he reached out to me to sign the documents.”
