A former accountant for Bernard Madoff was arrested yesterday, nearly five years after the imprisoned swindler’s huge Ponzi scheme was uncovered, an FBI spokesman said.
Paul Konigsberg, the accountant, had helped Madoff open an office in London during the 1980s, and was also a former senior partner at Konigsberg Wolf. Reed Brodsky, a lawyer for Konigsberg, was not available for comment.
Brodsky told The New York Times, which earlier reported the arrest, that his 77-year-old client was an “innocent victim” of Madoff’s fraud who looked forward to clearing his name at trial. A spokeswoman for US attorney Preet Bharara in New York, where Madoff’s firm was based, declined to comment.
Madoff was arrested on December 12, 2008, for running a Ponzi scheme at Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities over decades. He is serving a 150-year prison sentence.
Five former employees of Madoff’s firm who prosecutors said had aided the fraud have pleaded not guilty, and are scheduled to go to trial on October 7. – Reuters