The lawyer heading a civil lawsuit against Daniel Kinahan insists the mob boss is “hiding out” in his Dubai bolthole – but says it will not stop him getting millions for his client.
Ex-Marine Eric Montalvo also told how he found it “quite remarkable” that MTK - also being sued in the case - has established a corporate presence in the US.
MTK, the sports management firm which the Dubliner co-founded and others are being sued by boxing manager Moses Heredia who alleges top boxer JoJo Diaz was illegally lured away from him with a $100,000 cash payment.
In submissions to the courts in California, they allege Kinahan is continuing to organise fights for MTK boxers which are “steeped in money obtained from drug trafficking and money laundering”.
Although Kinahan has already been served in Dubai, Mr Montalvo is in the process of re-serving the thug court papers as part of an amended complaint.
The company has tried to distance itself from Kinahan in recent years, however the lawyer insists they are still tied up. Mr Montalvo said: “MTK is all about misinformation.
“They’re taking a position that Daniel Kinahan is not really part of us and he’s not really doing anything and he’s hiding out in Dubai so I can’t touch him or serve him and this and that but that’s not going to bear out.
“Clearly, he has a hand in things. Social media reflects that, fighters reflect that. It just doesn’t pass muster. A US judge is not going to ignore the facts and all the statements.”
Mr Montalvo explained he has to go to different jurisdictions to get his client cash. He expects it to be in the millions and while he admits it will not be much to Kinahan, it would be to his client. Mr Montalvo told the Plastic Paddy YouTube channel: “The question really is, how do I get the money?
“I’ve to go across the earth and try to seize assets and get other governments to help me and all that. That’s my problem, I’ll figure that out.”
Mr Montalvo also revealed his shock at how MTK had set up a US corporate presence considering Kinahan – who runs a €1billion drugs and arms cartel – is banned from the country.
He said: “That’s interesting for several reasons, one because of the fact – it’s my position – that Daniel Kinahan is absolutely still involved in this business.
“He cannot travel to the US, there’s about 20 of them who cannot from his organisation because of his narco terrorist activities.
“This is not me, I’m not making this up. These are governments and these governments have made these determinations.
“So I certainly think that the fact that they are so bold as to establish a corporate physical presence in the United States, is quite remarkable to me. They were sort of getting away with murder if you will by doing it overseas and saying catch me if you can.”
The lawyer also explained any information he gets as part of the case, he is willing to pass on to authorities if they decide to pursue Kinahan criminally.
Kinahan co-founded MTK in 2012, then as MGM, before they said he stood away in 2017.
However, the company itself last year admitted the Dubliner still has connections to the firm as he advises some of their fighters while its chief Bob Yalen also told the BBC that he remains in constant contact with Kinahan.
The High Court previously accepted submissions as part of the Criminal Assets Bureau’s case against his long-time ally Liam Byrne, that Daniel ran the day-to-day operations of the Kinahan organised crime group.
Last year, the Special Criminal Court established the gang carries out “execution-style murders.”
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