Spain seized Assad's uncle's estates and accounts
Spanish authorities have seized the accounts and estates of Syrian President Bashar Assad's uncle, Rifaat Assad, who is suspected of stealing $300 million from the Syrian treasury in 1984. The investigation into the case of a 79-year-old expatriate from Syria began in France, where he has been living for more than 30 years.
French prosecutors suspect the former Syrian army officer of money laundering, forgery and tax evasion. Rifaat’s property in Spain includes villas in the Andalusian resorts of Marbella and Puerto Banus where fifteen searches have already been conducted.
In addition, according to the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office’s report, 16 accounts directly related to Assad are already blocked. Another 76 accounts are being checked by the supervisory authority.
Rifaat Assad’s family’s property totals 503 units of real estate, including villas, apartments, parking lots and a luxury hotel. The entire estate is estimated to be worth 691 million euros or 735 million dollars. For example, just a large La Maquina or “machine farm” alone is estimated at 60 million euros.
According to the French prosecutor's office that closely cooperates with its Spanish colleagues, some of the companies and ownership units on the Andalusian coast were governed by the wives and children of the 79-year-old Rifaat.
The Syrian President’s uncle personally stated that he had previously been given money by representatives of the Saudi royal family. In recent news, it was reported that Washington is no longer focused on eliminating Assad from power.