The Duke of York's former home was bought for £15million using laundered money, it was claimed yesterday.
An exiled multi-millionaire has alleged that the purchase of Sunninghill Park was paid for with cash from the sale of a state-run firm in Kazakhstan.
Mukhtar Ablyazov now intends to call Prince Andrew as a defence witness in his own corruption case to give evidence about the sale.
Claims: Prince Andrew with his friend Goga Ashkenazi. His former home at Sunninghill Park was bought by Timur Kulibayev, who has a child with Ms Ashkenazi and is the son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan
Such a court appearance would be potentially embarrassing for the prince, who has built links with Kazakhstan because of his role as Britain's international trade ambassador.
Sunninghill in Berkshire was Andrew's marital home with the Duchess of York.
It was sold to Timur Kulibayev, the son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan, for £15million in 2007, despite having been on the market for £3million less.
Mr Ablyazov claims to have documents which link the purchase with the sell-off of a £110million stake in a state-owned oil and gas company in Kazakhstan.
There is no suggestion that Prince Andrew would have known the source of the funds.
Run-down: Sunninghill Park, pictured last year, has fallen into a state of disrepair since it was bought in 2007 for £15million. An exiled multi-millionaire claims it was paid for with laundered money
Pool: The property was bought by Timur Kulibayev for £3million more than its £12million market price
Exile: Kazakhstan banker Mukhtar Ablyazov intends to call the prince as a defence witness in his own corruption case to give evidence about the sale
The 600-acre estate near Ascot was bought through a company registered in the British Virgin Islands and the prince has always denied any involvement in the deal.
Mr Ablyazov, 47, a former government minister in Kazakhstan, is expected to include the allegation in legal submissions to the High Court later this month.
He is fighting allegations that he was involved in corruption in his home country, where he was chairman of the former Soviet state's biggest bank, Bank TuranAlem.
It has launched High Court proceedings against him over claims that £175million was secretly diverted into companies he controlled.
Mr Ablyazov fled to Britain after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Kazakhstan last year, and has applied for asylum here.
He denies the allegations against him and claims he is the victim of a politically motivated smear campaign because he helped to found the main Kazakh opposition party.
Stables: The Berkshire estate was bought through a company registered in the British Virgin Islands - the prince has always denied any involvement in the deal
Mr Ablyazov claims to have documents which link the sale of Sunningham Park with the sell-off of a £110million stake in a state-owned oil and gas company
Prince Andrew has travelled to the central Asian state several times in his unpaid role as Britain's trade envoy.
He has also visited the country privately, and has forged close links with Mr Kulibayev and Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'There is no connection between the Duke of York and these allegations. Therefore there is no prospect of him being called as a witness.'
Former glory: Prince Andrew lived at Sunninghill Park with his former wife Sarah Ferguson, even after their 1996 divorce, until 2002
