Trial begins in Baku for French water firm's VP over money laundering, bribery charges

The vice president of French water and wastewater services giant SAUR, Anass Derraz, has gone on trial in Baku in connection with a criminal case launched by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS), authorities said on Thursday.

Derraz, a dual citizen of France and Morocco, is charged under Azerbaijan’s criminal code with large-scale money laundering and passive bribery. The charges relate to an alleged scheme involving multimillion-dollar bribes connected to the assets of Azerbaijani-born Russian billionaire Farhad Akhmedov.

The preliminary hearing at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, chaired by Judge Farid Namazov, was attended by interpreters fluent in both English and French. Derraz did not object to the interpreters or the composition of the court.

Court documents show that Derraz, born in 1984 in Morocco, is married with two children and resides in Dubai, where SAUR’s regional office is registered. At the hearing, he requested the charges be dropped or the case returned to preliminary investigation, citing the fact that he has been unemployed for 11 months and wishes to reunite with his children in the UAE.

However, the court rejected the motion, ruling that there was no basis to terminate or suspend the proceedings. The travel ban against Derraz remains in force, and the case has been set for trial on July 3.

According to the indictment, Derraz is accused of receiving part of a multimillion-dollar bribe from Akhmedov in exchange for allegedly influencing French authorities to lift sanctions and unfreeze assets, including Akhmedov’s luxury yacht "Luna."

The case also implicates Alexandre Benalla, the former head of security for the French President, who is now wanted by Interpol. In April 2025, Interpol issued a Red Notice at the request of Azerbaijan, citing serious legal grounds and evidence provided by the SSS.

Prosecutors claim funds were transferred to accounts held by Derraz at Al Hilal Bank and by Benalla at Bank of Africa United Kingdom. While Derraz is being tried in Baku, Benalla’s extradition proceedings are reportedly underway in a third country.

The high-profile case has drawn attention in both local and international media due to the involvement of senior French figures and allegations of corruption linked to geopolitical sanctions enforcement.