The billionaire accused of being the world's biggest fraudster may have fled to France after a warrant was put out for his arrest, it is claimed.
Mukhtar Ablyazov, 48, right, former chairman of BTA, Kazakhstan's national bank, has also apparently given an interview to a Russian newspaper accusing a British judge of being "biased".
BTA, which he is alleged to have cheated, believes he took a coach to France last week. He failed to attend a High Court hearing where a judge jailed him for 22 months for contempt of court.
Vedemosti newspaper said: "He told this paper he did not attend because he didn't have enough time to prepare his defence."
BTA claims Ablyazov breached an order freezing his assets. It has now applied for an order barring him from defending himself in court if he does not give himself up by March 2 and provide full disclosure of his assets by March 9.
A decision on the order is expected this week.
Ablyazov, of Hampstead, is being sued for a record £3.2 billion. He fled to London when BTA collapsed with £7.6 billion debts and was given political asylum.
He is accused of conspiring to siphon money out of BTA through fake loans and share sales, which he denies. His lawyers plan to appeal the contempt ruling.
