Italia sequestra 20 milioni di euro rubati a Ursula Andress

Italian authorities have seized 20 million euros in assets linked to funds allegedly stolen from Ursula Andress, the 90-year-old Swiss actress known as the first Bond girl. The operation, conducted in Florence and Tuscany, targeted real estate, vineyards, olive groves, artworks, and financial holdings traced to money laundering schemes. The investigation followed Andress’s report to Swiss authorities of being defrauded by her financial adviser over eight years, resulting in the loss of 18 million Swiss francs.

The stolen funds were reportedly reinvested through complex transactions designed to obscure their origin. Italian financial police identified 11 properties, 14 agricultural plots, and artworks in the Florence area as part of the illicit network. A judge authorized the seizure of assets equivalent to the stolen amount, though no arrests have been announced. The case highlights the challenges of tracking cross-border financial crimes, with investigations spanning Switzerland and Italy.

The mastermind behind the fraud, Eric Freymond, a Geneva-based financial manager, died by suicide in July 2025 after confessing to part of the scheme. His death left unresolved questions about the full extent of the operation. Swiss authorities had previously flagged opaque transactions in Andress’s accounts, leading to the collaboration between Italian and Swiss investigators. The actress, who rose to fame in 1962’s "Dr. No," described feeling "deliberately chosen as a victim" and "exploited in a perfidious, indeed criminal, way."

Despite the seizure, Andress’s legal team continues to seek justice, targeting potential accomplices in Switzerland. The case underscores the vulnerability of high-profile individuals to financial manipulation, even as authorities work to recover stolen assets. For Andress, the ordeal has left lasting emotional scars, with the actress expressing ongoing distress over the betrayal by those entrusted with her finances.