A £5million apartment in a gated development on the banks of the Thames in Richmond is at the centre of an international money laundering investigation.

The property is owned by glamorous millionaire DJ and daughter of an oligarch, Izzat Khanim Javadova, who performs under the name Mikaela Jav, and her husband Suleyman Javadov.

The two, who have links to the president of Azerbaijan, have been accused of bringing £14 million of 'dirty money' into Britain by the National Crime Agency.

The Agency is trying to seize the couple's multi-million pound bank accounts and has told a court that the money is being laundered in this country after being transferred here via a complex web of transactions, including fake invoices for vast quantities of steel, to hide its illicit origins.

This activity has been dubbed the "Azerbaijan laundromat" and was first exposed by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global network of investigative journalists.

Its research revealed that the couple received millions of pounds in suspicious funds.

The couple at the centre of the investigation own several London homes between them worth millions of pounds, including a flat in Whitehall with views over the Thames, and the property in the prestigious Richmond Bridge development, built on the site of the former Twickenham Ice Rink.

The couple bought a huge fourth-floor apartment in Blanchard House on the luxury estate - a high-security gated development - in October 1996 for £960,000.

Today, this same luxury property is thought to be worth more than £5m, based on average property price rises for London according to the Nationwide building society calculator.

Land Registry records show the purchase includes the "fourth floor together with the library and loft above", making it one of the largest apartments in the complex. There is also a huge circular balcony with views towards the River Thames and Richmond Hill.

The development is made up of 226 flats and 34 townhouses , and is home to multi-millionaires, TV personalities, and a former Premier League football manager.

It is set within a beautifully-landscaped garden with manicured trees and shrubs and many of the homes have direct views of the river across tennis courts and a small park. An impressive central drive leads to the grand foyer area of the principal building.

Estate agents boast that the development has a "sophisticated air and exudes grandeur".

Apartments are finished to a high specification and include spacious living areas, balconies or corner terraces, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Residents also benefit from 24-hour security, a private gym and secure underground parking spaces.

The couple are also understood to own a luxury flat and a villa overlooking the sea in Ibiza, as well as an extensive property portfolio in Azerbaijan.

They formerly owned Love The Underground Records, a promotions firm known for throwing "techno and tech house parties" frequented by celebrities in luxury surroundings including Kensington Roof Gardens in west London.

The details of the legal action by the National Crime Agency and the name of the couple has been a secret until now.

Earlier this week an anonymity order protecting the identities of the couple expired. This followed a two-year legal case by the Evening Standard to name them.

Ms Javadova is the cousin of Azerbaijan's ruler Ilham Aliyev and the daughter of a former Azerbaijan MP Jalal Aliyev. Her husband is the son of a former deputy energy minister for Azerbaijan.

The couple came to London at least ten years ago and the Evening Standard reported they were given a visa by the Home Office because of their wealth.

The National Crime Agency told Westminster Magistrates court that it believes the true source of the couple's money was corruption.

Court documents state that some £13.8million was transferred to the couple over a period of six years and eight months and a legitimate source could not be identified.

The National Crime Agency said: "In December 2019 the NCA secured account freezing orders in respect of funds totalling £6,442,346.53, €10,000, and $10,000, held in bank accounts belonging to Suleyman Javadov and his wife Izzat Khanim Javadova.

"A forfeiture hearing for these monies will commence on July 5 at Westminster Magistrates' Court. No further details will be available until the conclusion of the case."

The couple deny any wrongdoing and had managed to persuade the courts to keep their identities secret until now on the grounds that revealing their names would damage their reputation.

In response to the allegations their solicitors, Banks Kelly, said the couple had "provided evidence that the funds are derived from legitimate sources of income.

"The NCA's case is strongly opposed and our clients' position will be robustly defended in the forfeiture proceedings or otherwise."