Newsroom / CNA
A jury in a London court has found a stockbroker of Cypriot origin guilty of fraud.
Anthony Constantinou, the founder of the investment firm, promised investors impressive annual profits of nearly 60% through trading in the foreign exchange market, assuring them of its safety.
However, the funds entrusted to him by investors, ranging from £50 to £100,000 each, were not actually invested in the foreign exchange market. Instead, they were used for advertising campaigns promoting the company, high-profile sponsorships (including the Chelsea football team and boxing matches), and his personal purchases of luxury cars and motorcycles.
It is estimated that the 41-year-old received a total of £70 million from deceived clients between 2013 and 2015.
In 2015, he was arrested at his company's offices in London's financial district. Although he denied the charges, he disappeared before the final stage of his trial, leading to the issuance of an international arrest warrant.
The sentencing for his conviction in absentia is scheduled for June 9th.
Constantinou first gained public attention in Britain. His associates compared him to the character portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the film "The Wolf of Wall Street." He had no reservations about throwing bundles of banknotes at his employees, dousing them with champagne, and compelling them to consume bottles of vodka.
He is the son of a British-Cypriot fashion magnate who was found murdered in 1985.
This case remains one of the largest unsolved police mysteries in Britain.
