The Collective of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices in Lebanon (CVPFCL) and the anti-corruption association Sherpa want to open a new chapter in the issue of ill-gotten gains in Lebanon. Already at the origin of a complaint for money laundering against the former governor of the Bank of Lebanon (BDL), Riad Salamé, which led to the opening of an investigation in France and in several European countries, the two associations filed a complaint, Tuesday April 2, with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) against the resigning Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, his brother Taha and several of their relatives for “ whitening », “receipt” And ” conspiracy “ in an organized group.
“The Salamé affair is the first chapter, this is the second chapter and there will be others. There are already important bridges between the Mikati clan and the Salamé clan, which are only the tip of the iceberg. This complaint should be a factor in boosting investigations”estimate the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Mare William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth. Targeted by investigations for embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, illicit enrichment and tax evasion in several European countries, Mr. Salamé has, since May 2023, been the subject of international arrest warrants issued by France and the Germany.
In this complaint filed against The world was able to consult, the plaintiffs accuse Najib and Taha Mikati, and several members of their family, of having fraudulently built up assets in France and abroad. According to the non-exhaustive list they established, Najib Mikati owns properties in Monaco and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, on the Côte d’Azur, a 79-meter yacht “acquired for $100 million [92 millions d’euros] » and two Falcons, valued at approximately $95 million. His brother Taha owns a yacht, worth an estimated $125 million.
“The origin of my family heritage is entirely transparent and legitimate, defended the resigning Prime Minister in a press release sent Wednesday evening to Agence France-Presse. We have always acted in strict compliance with the laws. » Coming from a Sunni family from Tripoli, in northern Lebanon, Najib and Taha Mikati, aged 68 and 69 respectively, have, in half a century, built a veritable empire in telecommunications, as well as in real estate. , transport, oil and gas, with their M1 Group. They are today the two biggest fortunes in the country of Cedar, each with $2.8 billion to their assets, according to the magazine Forbes.
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