A British banker who blew the whistle on an alleged million-dollar deal involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been found dead in Thailand, just weeks after vowing to expose further explosive evidence.
Simon Andriesz, 57, was reportedly found hanged on September 23 in what has been described as an apparent suicide, according to Radar Online.
His death came just weeks after he publicly detailed the “devastating” consequences of speaking out and hinted that he was preparing to reveal more about an alleged financial arrangement involving the disgraced former prince.
Andriesz had previously accused the former Duke of York of being at the centre of a proposed £1 million (about AUD$2 million) deal designed to secure valuable introductions and connections cultivated during his decade-long stint as Britain’s special trade envoy.
Mountbatten-Windsor held the prestigious position between 2001 and 2011, during which he travelled extensively and developed relationships with wealthy business figures and foreign governments.
On July 14, Andriesz spoke to BBC journalist Andy Verity for the File on 4 Investigates documentary, Epstein Files: Lutnick, the Royals and the British Whistleblower.
During the investigation, the former banker made the extraordinary allegation that a proposed loan was effectively designed to purchase access to the former Duke of York’s influential network.
“What it involved was a loan to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of £1 million (or about AUD$2 million) … to basically buy a prince.”
Andriesz also claimed to have uncovered evidence suggesting US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had failed to disclose business dealings involving convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The whistleblower previously served as a managing director at financial brokerage BGC Group, where Lutnick had been chief executive.
He alleged the company had been eager to strike the £1 million arrangement with Mountbatten-Windsor in exchange for introductions to wealthy individuals and sovereign institutions.
The allegations have not been established in court. However, it was a cryptic social media post published just weeks before Andriesz’s death that has since attracted renewed attention.
On August 9, the banker took to X to describe the enormous personal toll he claimed to have suffered after coming forward.
“The personal consequences of whistleblowing, and the retaliation I say followed, have been devastating for my family and me.”
In the same post, Andriesz suggested he was not finished speaking out, indicating that further revelations could be on the horizon.
“I intend to share more of the evidence and the story behind what happened.”
