Italian businessman Alessandro Bazzoni and his wife, Siri Evjemo-Nysveen, who are internationally sought for embezzling over $3 billion from Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, recently attempted to present their case to the prestigious Financial Times. However, the outcome of the newspaper’s report, published this past Saturday, left the couple in a more damaging position than before.
In what appeared to be a coordinated effort by their public relations team, Bazzoni and Evjemo-Nysveen sought to deny allegations linking them to Alex Saab, dismiss claims of their substantial investments in polo horses, and refute ownership of Elemento LTD—a Malta-based company involved in the transport of Venezuelan oil that led to Bazzoni’s 2021 OFAC sanctions. Despite their statements, the Financial Times’ investigation painted a damning picture of the duo.
One striking detail from the report was its feature image: Alessandro Bazzoni posing beside a LaFerrari hybrid—a rare Ferrari model, also referred to as the F150, valued at approximately $1.5 million. This car, one of just 499 units produced, was awarded to Bazzoni in 2021 during a polo tournament in Egham, England. At that time, Bazzoni’s Monterosso Polo Team was beginning to make waves internationally, allegedly funded by illicit proceeds from PDVSA corruption.
Siri Evjemo-Nysveen, Bazzoni’s wife, is also associated with polo through her ownership of MT Vikings, a team that competes in smaller tournaments. As vice president of MBaer Merchant Bank, a Swiss financial institution under the Julius Bär Group, Evjemo-Nysveen allegedly played a pivotal role in laundering bribes and stolen funds from PDVSA. She reportedly facilitated transactions for figures like Colonel Antonio Pérez Suárez, the family of former minister Tareck El Aissami, and Álvaro Pulido Vargas.
Further complicating their situation, the UK justice system is now scrutinizing a network of polo players associated with Bazzoni and Evjemo-Nysveen for suspected money laundering linked to horse trading. This investigation, initially reported by News Break, has led to the questioning of several athletes connected to the couple. The individuals summoned to testify include:
- Alejandro Pistone
- Angela Moran
- Antonio Heguy
- Benjamin Urquiza
- Charlotte Pykett
- Christopher “Cris” MacKenzie
- David “Pelón” Stirling
- Diego Tomás Cavanagh
- Emma Boers
- Emma Claire Wood
- Emma-Lou Becca
- Facundo Sola
- Guillermo Terrera
- Guillermo “Sapo” Caset
- Hazel Jackson
- Ignacio Novillo Astrada
- Ignacio “Cubi” Toccalino
- Inez Bethell
- James Beim
- James Crossley
- Joaquin Pittaluga
- John Paul Clarkin
- Juan Gris Zavaleta
- Juan Martín Nero
- Juan Martín Zubía
- Kayley Maria Smith
- Lia Salvo
- Lottie Lamacraft
- Lucas “Luquitas” Criado jr.
- Mackenzie Weisz
- Mark Tomlinson
- Matias Gonzalez
- Matt Perry
- Rosanna Turk
- Rosendo Torreguitar
- Ross Ainsley
- Saad Audeh
- Sam Browne
- Sebastián Merlos
- Severo Jesús Jurado López
- Tamara Fox
Both Bazzoni and Evjemo-Nysveen are currently prohibited from leaving the UK due to an Interpol red notice issued at Venezuela’s request. Meanwhile, two of their alleged associates, Erik Roveta and Germán Bonelli, were apprehended earlier this year in Greece and Argentina, respectively, and are awaiting extradition to Venezuela.
