Arrr! Monaco be shutting down the investigation into the scallywag Lebanese PM's corruption! Walk the plank, matey!
2023-08-25
Arrr! The blimey three-year investigation by Monaco be a complete waste o' time, mateys! They scoured the seven seas lookin' fer dirt on Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, only to find an empty treasure chest. Arr, aye, they had to walk the plank 'cause they didn't find any damning evidence, arr!
Monaco's judicial authorities have closed a three-year investigation into Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, and his family over corruption allegations due to lack of evidence. The case, raised by unspecified Lebanese plaintiffs, accused Mikati of illicit enrichment and money laundering. Morgan Raymond, the deputy public prosecutor in Monaco, informed Mikati's legal team about the closure of the investigation. Mikati's office labeled the case as "fake" and politically motivated, stating that legal action will be taken against those responsible for spreading "lies and rumors."The revelation comes in the wake of the Pandora Papers leak, which exposed how Lebanon's politicians and bankers have hidden wealth in offshore tax havens and used it to purchase expensive properties. The leaked documents revealed that Mikati has owned an offshore company in Panama since the 1990s and used it to acquire a property worth over $10 million in Monaco in 2008. Additionally, his son Maher was a director of two British Virgin Islands-based companies, which were utilized by Mikati's Monaco-based company, M1 Group, to establish an office in central London.
In response to the allegations, Mikati released a statement asserting that his family's fortune was accumulated before his entry into politics and was in compliance with global standards, subject to regular audits. The closure of the investigation by Monaco's authorities supports Mikati's claim of innocence and has prompted him to take legal action against those responsible for the accusations.
While the case against Mikati has been closed, the Pandora Papers leak and ongoing corruption scandals have further tarnished the reputation of Lebanon's political elite. The country continues to grapple with economic and political crises, compounded by widespread public discontent and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.