Baazov argues back

Former CEO of Amaya Gaming, operator of PokerStars, keeps fighting the legal battle over accusations of corruption.

Canada.- David Baazov, former chief executive officer of Amaya Gaming, one of the most renowned gaming companies at international level, has presented new resources to continue the legal battle that started after several suits against him were introduced due to alleged corruption. Baazov has demanded a Quebec court to “dismiss his insider trading charges.”

The former businessman alleges that the court must respond to his request as the legal system has been delaying his case to the trial. The request was introduced by Baazov’s attorneys last October 17, although the press has published the latest move this week. According to the request, Baazov’s charges should be dismissed as “the prosecution has been too slow in bringing the case to trial.”

The bussinesman left Amaya’s leadership after the Québec securities regulator Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) started investigating him for an insider trading case. Said investigation involved Amaya’s purchase of the Rational Group (owner of PokerStars and Full Tilt) and was the largest insider trading inquiry in Canadian history. Baazov will stand trial next November and will also face fraud charges in a case that might last for more than four months and will involve 50 witnesses.

According to the investigation, Baazov had allegedly traded company stock with two other employees before Amaya bought the Rational Group for a record US$4.9 billion in 2014. He also had plans to take the bussines private but failed to do so as questionable financial backing of the offer forced him to back off three years later.