Spanish Company Sues Fraudster

Spanish energy company Gas Natural Fenosa has filed a lawsuit against the imposter who last month signed a billion-euro agreement with Ukraine, allegedly on behalf of the company.

Newspaper ABC reported earlier this month that an action had been launched against Jordi Sardá Bonheví, whose last known address was a modest dwelling in Barcelona. 

It cited a statement it had seen from the company: “Gas Natural Fenosa filed a lawsuit at Spain's High Court against Jordi Sarda Bonvehi, a commercial agent who voluntarily signed a multimillion contract [EUR 850 million] with the Ukrainian government on behalf of the Spanish company.” 

According to a company spokesman, the charges brought against Bonvehi concern fraud and forging commercial documents.

In November the man signed a cooperation agreement with Kiev to jointly construct an LNG terminal on the Black Sea. Reports from Ukraine said the document didn’t include any binding terms, like the obligation to pay by any party.

 Reuters reported a telephone conversation with a man in Barcelona who identified himself as Bonheví and said he had signed the agreement, though he had no authorization from Gas Natural to do so.

“I thought I could sign it and then settle it with the company,” he said, according to Reuters, which added that it could not independently establish the man’s identity.

See earlier story: Ukraine Left Embarrassed by Gas Deal Dupe