Two leading figures in English polo have been accused of using their positions at a now-defunct Swiss bank to launder the proceeds of the illegal sale of millions of barrels of oil belonging to Venezuela’s national oil company, according to the US Treasury.
A notice issued by the Treasury department earlier this month about the activities of Zurich-based MBaer Merchant Bank linked both Siri Evjemo-Nysveen, the bank’s former vice-chair, and her husband Alessandro Bazzoni, an Italian businessman, to allegations of money laundering.
Both are leading figures in England’s polo scene, with Bazzoni acting as patron of the Monterosso team while Evjemo-Nysveen acted as patron of a team called Vikings. Patrons are wealthy players who bankroll a team and play alongside hired professionals.