Lawyer for fugitive OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova prosecuted for improper threats
The post Lawyer for fugitive OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova prosecuted for improper threats appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
Claire Gill, the London-based lawyer who represented infamous crypto scammer Ruja Ignatova in 2017, is now being prosecuted for sending “improper” legal threats to victim Jennifer McAdam over YouTube videos discussing the OneCoin scam. As you may know, Ruja disappeared in 2017 shortly after, and US investigators now accuse her of taking nearly $4 billion by selling fake crypto tokens. The FBI later placed her on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. One of her co-founders received a 20-year prison sentence after admitting to fraud. Regulators say Gill knew there was a “strong possibility” OneCoin was fraudulent when she targeted Jennifer. Gill challenges the case At Thursday’s hearing in London, Claire’s lawyers told the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that the entire case should be removed. They argued she did not have to verify whether claims about Ruja were true before threatening litigation. They also said no lawsuit ever reached a courtroom. Gill’s lawyers wrote that she “was entitled to proceed on the basis of her instructions from OneCoin that the allegations against them were untrue.” They added that there was nothing “improper or abusive in bringing a defamation claim for the purposes of public relations.” The tribunal has the power to issue unlimited fines or block her from practicing law. Just before Gill sent the letter to Jennifer, she wrote to Ruja: “I note the view is that legal action must be initiated to send a clear message that action is being taken, even though the claims are not straightforward.” Regulators say Jennifer was in a “vulnerable position physically and mentally” when she received Gill’s warning. They added that “the fact that she did not succumb to the threat does not diminish its seriousness.” The hearing is happening as the UK government works on rules to stop firms from using legal…
