Police are treating as suspicious the death of one of Kia Joorabchian's alleged backers in his recent takeover bid for West Ham United.
52-year-old Georgian tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack in Leatherhead, Surrey yesterday.However Police have referred the death of Mr Patarkatsishvili, who had previously revealed that he thought he was the target of an assassination plot, to their Major Crimes Investigations Unit.
Joorabchian has claimed at the time of his takeover bid that the Georgian, who was living in England in exile having been charged with plotting a coup in his home country was not involved with his bid to purchase West Ham United.
However multi-millionaire Patarkatsishvili, when questioned at the time refused to deny any involvement with Joorabchian.
"We have invested in a wonderful football club in Brazil, Corinthians and I have a couple of football investments I am reluctant to mention; they are in the process of being finalised," he said in August 2005.
"Money has a wonderful habit of flowing where it feels comfortable. I invest in these clubs with friends."
Boris Berezovsky, another who was linked with the Hammers bid said today:
"The death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is a terrible tragedy. I have lost my closest friend. This is a huge loss for all of his family and friends."
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