Kazakh banker's death roils TransMeridian

摘要

Just as tiny Houston independent TransMeridian Exploration was rolling toward first oil production from its South Alibek field in western Kazakhstan last December,an accident occurred.Kazakh banking mogul Yerzhan Tatishev,37,was shot dead in what was officially called a hunting mishap.Tatishev was CEO and 60% owner of Bank TurenAlem,Kazakhstan's second-largest bank and the us35-mil lender to TransMeridian's South Alibek project.He also was the mystery investor behind Bramex Management,the British Virgin Islands firm which last year exercised an option for 50% of South Alibek operating company Caspi Neft.