A Russian whistleblower who was found critically ill in Weybridge had taken out millions of pounds worth of life insurance shortly before he died, a coroner’s court heard.

Businessman Alexander Perepilichnyy, 44, was found collapsed in the affluent area of St George’s estate in Weybridge on November 10, 2012, after he went for a run. He died shortly after.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Mr Perepilichnyy had gelsemium, a Chinese plant toxin, in his stomach at the time of his death.

A report expected to detail the percentage of gelsemium in his system failed to be delivered at a pre-inquest review at Woking Coroners' Court on Monday, September 21. 

Bob Moxon Browne QC, representing Legal and General life insurance, told the court that Mr Perepilichnyy had "insured his life in the months just before his death for millions of pounds".

He added: "You’ve got to look at the possibility that Mr Perepilichnyy was a candidate for an unlawful death."

Mr Moxon Browne also asked coroner Richard Travers to consider the death of Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian spy allegedly poisoned, who died in suspicious circumstances in the UK, in relation to Mr Perepilichnyy’s death.

He said: "It would be counterproductive to ignore the fact that other Russian nationals have come to sticky ends on British soil."

He added: "Foreigners can come here and murder people here that they have made enemies of. The fact is this may have happened in this case."

Geoffrey Robertson QC, representing financial firm Hermitage Capital Management, claimed Mr Perepilichnyy may have been targeted by Russian spy agencies, further requesting Mr Travers to consider other similar cases.

Mr Perepilichnyy had been helping Swiss authorities in a major corruption investigation involving multi-million-dollar-fraud. He had also testified against those linked to the 2009 death of anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

Mr Perepilichnyy was the fourth person linked to the case to have died in strange circumstances.

Another pre inquest hearing will be held in November.