France confiscates property of Assad’s uncle

The French judiciary has reinforced the decision to confiscate property in France belonging to the uncle of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Former Vice President Refaat Al-Assad is accused of buying the property with money stolen when he was in office pre-1984, Moheet.com has reported.

According to initial reports by AFP, a French court rejected appeals filed by the ex-Syrian official against the decision to confiscate the property. It was noted that the court judgement included a number of companies which own real estate in upmarket neighbourhoods in Paris.

Sherpa and Transparency International France, two activist groups representing victims of financial crimes, lodged a complaint against Refaat Al-Assad in 2013. They claimed that he gained his fortune with money he stole when he was vice president.

In September 2013, the French newspaper Le Monde estimated the value of his French property at more than €160 million ($170.63m). One palace outside Paris came with 45 hectares of land, said Le Monde. Apart from a number of apartments and land in the west of the French capital, Al-Assad also owns a “vast” property on the exclusive Avenue Foch with a view of the Arc de Triomphe; the townhouse is said to be worth €90m ($96m).

A source close to the case said that the French judiciary would look into more appeals filed against the confiscation of other properties. The source added that one of Refaat Al-Assad’s lawyers was contacted for a comment, but refused to say anything.