Investing for Oligarchs

Powerful Russians seem to have a reputation for vindictive behaviour.  Whether deserved or not, it seems to be the root of this curious rumour regarding an Austrian investor.

Sonja Kohn disappeared from public view after it has emerged that her firm, Bank Medici, invested money in Bernard Madoff’s ‘Ponzi scheme’ – and the New York Times wonders whether this has anything to do with her Russian oligarch clients:

Embarrassment from investing heavily with Mr. Madoff could explain wanting to disappear from public view. But another theory widely repeated by those who know Mrs. Kohn is that she may be afraid of some particularly displeased investors: Russian oligarchs whose money made up a chunk of the $2.1 billion that Bank Medici invested with Mr. Madoff.

“With Russian oligarchs as clients,” said a Viennese banker who knew Mrs. Kohn and her husband socially, “she might have reason to be afraid.”