A foreign law firm unmasks how Italian businessman Francesco Bechetti influences the appointments of arbitration judges who then make decisions in his favor.
According to the investigation, the first part of Becchetti's scheme is to preempt potential arbitration cases and create disputes against the parties he is engaged with, including Albania.
The second and very subtle part of Becchetti's scheme is securing the outcome of the arbitration by influencing the appointment of 2 of the 3 judges in his case against the Albanian state, specifically with the decision of the Belgian court to award Becchetti 100 million euro air fares.
Agents of the investigation firm have recorded a conversation with Marco Giontella, Becetti's private consultant for more than 25 years and his adviser on the case against Albania, where he reveals the entire scheme of Becetti's corrupt connections to the arbitration court.
"I know from my 30 years of experience behind him, that he has influenced the nomination (of judges). It's very subtle. You know, imagine, my client has had no more, no less, 20 arbitrations. Out of these 20, I follow him in 6 of them, knowing his issues and I know what he does in this case", says the advisor.
Giontella admits in the video that the judges nominated by Beccheti are able to favor the businessman even in cases against states, as in the case against the Albanian state.
According to the advisor, before choosing which judge he will support, Beccheti asks them what is their opinion on issues such as Albania? If they say "you will win", the way is open.
According to him, Beccheti knew in advance that in the case of Albania, the judge with whom he had spoken in advance, would give him a positive result.
But who chose the President of the arbitration in the case against Albania?
“The head of ICDS, but oriented, they had a list of people. And in this list they said, we prefer ones and twos, not threes and fours. Because my client (Beccheti) knew both of them", reveals Giontella.
The investigation explains that Charles Poncet was appointed to the arbitration after Becchetti spoke with him personally and secured his agreement to rule in his favor in the proceedings. The form of favors involved jobs being given to associates of ICSID committee members in exchange for influencing the election of a favorable President.
While Michael Pryles, the President of the original court had friendly relations with David Rivkin, Becchetti's main adviser for more than 12 years.
The investigation raises strong doubts about the validity of the Belgian court's decision to award businessman Francesco Becchetti 100 million euros in an arbitration case against the Republic of Albania.
Earlier, the European media agency "IntelliNews" wrote that the investigation has revealed that "the Italian businessman constantly orchestrates premeditated fraud schemes to win arbitrations."/TemA
A foreign law firm unmasks how Italian businessman Francesco Bechetti influences the appointments of arbitration judges who then make decisions in his favor.
— Gazeta Tema (@GazetaTema) November 8, 2024
Read the full article: https://t.co/NuRZX26nse pic.twitter.com/DTTRQHvkmt
Becchet's adviser reveals the scheme, how he predetermined the judges who would favor him in the arbitration against Albania pic.twitter.com/sKQ42Vd6X7
— Gazeta Tema (@GazetaTema) November 8, 2024