Death crash riddle of Briton accused of masterminding oil tax fraud

[muriel_volestrangler]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1206025,00.html

A MILLIONAIRE British lawyer killed in a mysterious helicopter crash is thought by US lawyers to have been the corporate mastermind behind one of the world’s biggest alleged tax evasion scandals.

Stephen Curtis is named in a lawsuit in America which has been brought by a group of investors who say they have lost up to $1 billion (£541 million) in the collapse of Yukos, the Russian oil giant.
...
This legal action comes as aviation experts and close friends of Mr Curtis voiced new doubts about the cause of the air crash in March which happened just days after he offered to provide information to British Intelligence about suspected illicit Russian business activities in Britain.
...
One aviation expert who has seen details of the investigation say investigators regard the crash as “highly suspicious”. Some of Mr Curtis’s business associates such as the exiled Russian media tycoon, Boris Berezovsky, have said they have no doubts it was foul play.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-1206025-2,00.html (may require subscription from outside UK; if it does, PM if you want a full copy)

[mom cat]

1. A couple of highly suspicious crashes here should also be

investigated, Wellstone and Carnihan.

[w4rma]

2. Who owns the UK Times? Is this outlet affiliated with Richard Perle?

[rooboy]

3. I think The Times is actually a Murdoch paper. n/t