Bangladesh, July 24 -- Perched on the iconic crescent of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the Kempinski Hotel & Residences project exudes opulence and exclusivity. With its sprawling seaside palace-like architecture and ultra-luxury apartments and villas, the 244-unit development has long attracted the worlds wealthiest buyers. Many of these properties reportedly sold for millions, some even before the complex officially opened its doors in 2011.

But beneath the glittering veneer of Dubais luxury real estate market lies a troubling nexus of illicit finance and corruption – one that traces back to one of Russias most infamous tax fraud scandals, known as the Magnitsky Affair.

The Magnitsky Affair revolves around Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian ...