Sergey Magnitsky, a 37-year old Russian attorney representing a UK-based investment firm, died in November 2009 after being held for 358 days in a pre-trial detention centre. He was arrested after becoming a prime suspect in a 2008 tax-evasion investigation. However, the Hermitage Capital Management Fund claim the arrest came after the lawyer uncovered a multi-million-dollar corruption scheme involving high-ranking state officials.
Officials say Magnitsky failed to receive proper medical treatment while in pre-trail detention and died as a result of complications from untreated pancreatitis and a heart condition. He died eight days before he would have had to be released or brought to trial.
