uncle of syrian president assad in french probe over €90m fortune
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
News » Shade

Uncle of Syrian President Assad in French probe over €90m fortune

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleUncle of Syrian President Assad in French probe over €90m fortune

The late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad (R)
Paris - AFP

The uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is under investigation in France for amassing a 90-million-euro fortune, including a stud farm and luxury apartments, despite being kicked out of Syria "with nothing" 30 years ago.

French investigators have provided details to AFP of their year-long probe into the finances of Rifaat al-Assad, the younger brother of late dictator Hafez al-Assad.

Rifaat has spent more than 30 luxurious years moving between homes in Paris, London and the southern Spanish city of Marbella since he was forced into exile for trying to seize power from his brother.

His family's assets, outlined by French customs in a May 2014 report, are valued at around 90 million euros ($98 million) -- much of it held through a web of businesses based in Luxembourg.

The inventory includes a stud farm near Paris, as well as two mansions, two apartment blocks and a plot of land in the French capital.

Rifaat told investigators he "had nothing" when he left Syria, having always given his wages away to the poor, according to a source close to the investigation.

"It was (then French president) Francois Mitterrand who asked me to come to France... he was very kind," Rifaat said, according to the source.

The investigation into Rifaat's finances was triggered by Sherpa, an activist group representing the victims of financial crime, which claims the fortune was stolen during his time at the heart of the Syrian regime.

The family claims it is the result of gifts from wealthy Saudi supporters, including former king Abdullah, with whom Rifaat shared a love of horse-racing.

"The stud farm was given to my father by prince (later king) Abdullah of Saudi Arabia," Rifaat's 43-year-old son, Soumar al-Assad, told investigators earlier this year.

Rifaat claims he invested these gifts in property, but did not keep a close eye on the details.

"I only occupy myself with politics," he said, according to the source.

"They bring me papers to sign... I don't know how to pay, even in restaurants."

Other members of the family have given evidence that Saudi backers have supported them ever since their exile in the 1980s.

Rifaat "lives principally from the sale of apartments... and from the regular help of Saudi Arabia".

"It is not Syrian money," said his lawyer Benjamin Grundler.  

However, Syria expert Fabrice Balanche, of CNRS University in Lyons, told the probe he is highly sceptical about the explanations.
"Saudi Arabia has no interest in supporting Rifaat, who doesn't represent anything," he told investigators.

Rifaat commanded Syria's notorious internal security forces in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Those forces carried out the bloody Hama massacre in 1982, which crushed a small Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing between 10,000 and 25,000 civilians in the process, according to Amnesty International.

 

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

uncle of syrian president assad in french probe over €90m fortune uncle of syrian president assad in french probe over €90m fortune

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 17:35 2017 Wednesday ,27 December

Egyptian MP underlines Egypt’s ability

GMT 15:43 2011 Sunday ,15 May

US bid to save Louisiana cities

GMT 12:06 2012 Friday ,04 May

Is there a solution for Sudan?

GMT 07:43 2014 Tuesday ,12 August

Where is Assad on Gaza

GMT 07:44 2017 Tuesday ,07 February

Holding local elections requires dialogue

GMT 10:23 2016 Saturday ,16 January

Jazz parades and glittery parties

GMT 14:45 2017 Thursday ,07 September

NATO on guard ahead of major Russian war games

GMT 23:59 2011 Wednesday ,09 March

Exxon Scores Key Victory In Alaska

GMT 12:13 2011 Friday ,16 December

Beckham Style Icon for Over 50

GMT 13:53 2011 Tuesday ,28 June

De Gea confirms Manchester United offer

GMT 23:07 2012 Tuesday ,31 January

The Kardashian Sisters Topless

GMT 08:21 2011 Wednesday ,28 December

Modern rocking chair

GMT 00:52 2011 Friday ,25 November

Graffiti as art in order-conscious Singapore
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle