Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's uncle is to be tried in Paris on charges of kidnapping his country to buy property worth at least $ 90 million in France.
82-year-old Rifat al-Assad, who denied the charges and split his time between France and Britain, said he would "not attend court for medical reasons."
The trial, which begins on Monday, is one of the most "not-for-profit" cases in France against members of foreign ruling families, whose extravagant spending and luxurious lifestyles contradict their citizens' difficulties. Teodorin Obiang, son of Equatorial Guinea's president, will appeal against his 2017 conviction and a three-year suspended sentence for corruption.
In 1982, Rifat al-Assad was called the "butcher's name" to command the forces behind the brutal and bloody action of an insurgency in central Syria. Anti-corruption agencies Sherpa and Transparency International have raised complaints.
Assad left Syria in 1984 and settled in Europe with his four wives and 16 children, the father of the current Syrian president who ruled the country from 1971 to 2000, leading a failed coup against his brother. He continued to nominate the vice president of Syria until 1998.
Between 2009 and 2011, he lived in a 10 million townhouse off Park Lane in Mayfair, but it was reported that he and his family were selling flats and a portfolio of homes in London.
His fortune includes two cities in Paris, one of which has 3,000 square meters (30,000 sq ft), a studio farm, a chatto and office space in the city of Lyon. Prosecutors hope to acquire more assets through offshore companies in Panama, Curacao, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Spanish prosecutors said Assad and his family had more than 500 properties in Spain which were seized by authorities in 2017.
The Spanish High Court has allegedly pursued Assad and 13 others in a money laundering case, saying they acted in an "integrated manner" to conceal property acquisitions.
Assad denied the French and Spanish allegations, claiming that most of his wealth was paid to him by the Saudi royal family, and did not personally manage the acquisition or management of the property. However, the prosecution said that it had evidence to be on hand and had not given any representative. The test is expected to run until 18 December.
Assad was also tried for war crimes in Switzerland, which he condemned. In the 1980s, he led defense companies, an elite commando group suspected of killing several thousands between the 10,000 and 40,000 Syrians at Tadmore Prison near Palmyra in 1980 and Hamacacha in 1982.
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82-year-old Rifat al-Assad, who denied the charges and split his time between France and Britain, said he would "not attend court for medical reasons."
The trial, which begins on Monday, is one of the most "not-for-profit" cases in France against members of foreign ruling families, whose extravagant spending and luxurious lifestyles contradict their citizens' difficulties. Teodorin Obiang, son of Equatorial Guinea's president, will appeal against his 2017 conviction and a three-year suspended sentence for corruption.
In 1982, Rifat al-Assad was called the "butcher's name" to command the forces behind the brutal and bloody action of an insurgency in central Syria. Anti-corruption agencies Sherpa and Transparency International have raised complaints.
Assad left Syria in 1984 and settled in Europe with his four wives and 16 children, the father of the current Syrian president who ruled the country from 1971 to 2000, leading a failed coup against his brother. He continued to nominate the vice president of Syria until 1998.
Between 2009 and 2011, he lived in a 10 million townhouse off Park Lane in Mayfair, but it was reported that he and his family were selling flats and a portfolio of homes in London.
His fortune includes two cities in Paris, one of which has 3,000 square meters (30,000 sq ft), a studio farm, a chatto and office space in the city of Lyon. Prosecutors hope to acquire more assets through offshore companies in Panama, Curacao, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Spanish prosecutors said Assad and his family had more than 500 properties in Spain which were seized by authorities in 2017.
The Spanish High Court has allegedly pursued Assad and 13 others in a money laundering case, saying they acted in an "integrated manner" to conceal property acquisitions.
Assad denied the French and Spanish allegations, claiming that most of his wealth was paid to him by the Saudi royal family, and did not personally manage the acquisition or management of the property. However, the prosecution said that it had evidence to be on hand and had not given any representative. The test is expected to run until 18 December.
Assad was also tried for war crimes in Switzerland, which he condemned. In the 1980s, he led defense companies, an elite commando group suspected of killing several thousands between the 10,000 and 40,000 Syrians at Tadmore Prison near Palmyra in 1980 and Hamacacha in 1982.
Because you are here…
... We have a little favor to ask. Before you read and support Guardian's independent, investigative journalism more than ever. And unlike many news organizations, we have chosen to keep our reporting open to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford.
The Guardian engages with some of the most important issues of our time - from a growing climate disaster to widespread inequality to a vast technological impact on our lives. At a time when factual information is mandatory, we believe that each of us around the world is entitled to receive accurate reporting at its heart.
Our editorial independence means that we set our agenda and make our opinions clear. Parent journalism is free from commercial and political bias and is not influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This means that we can give voice to the less-heard, find out where others roam and challenge those in power.
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