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| Arafat’s Wife Investigated For Money Laundering |
| 2004-02-27 |
| The French prosecutor’s office confirms that it is investigating money transfers of about $11 million into two French bank accounts held by the wife of Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat. The judicial investigation was launched last October when a French money-laundering watchdog agency noticed monthly payments of about one million euros ($1.2 million) from Switzerland into Suha Arafat’s French accounts. Nice job if you can get it. Mrs. Arafat, who married the Palestinian leader in 1992, lives in Paris with their daughter and her mother, and she rarely visits the PA self-rule areas. Waiting for Yasser to kick the bucket, smart girl. "The investigation is just in its very beginning phase," said vice district attorney Maryvonne Caillibotte. "Mrs. Arafat has not yet been questioned." Unconfirmed reports say Mrs. Arafat lives an extravagant lifestyle in the luxury Bristol Hotel, where she occupies an entire floor and receives a $100,000 monthly stipend from the PA. I guess that pays the rent and utilities. The $1.2m must be for pain and suffering, we’ve all seen Yasser. The PA envoy in France did not return a request for an interview or information on contacting Mrs. Arafat. Busy moving his accounts to a offshore bank. Arafat and the PA have frequently been accused of corruption and, as a result, have seen decreases in foreign aid in recent years. Several Palestinian aid organizations here declined to comment about the allegations against the PA leader’s wife, saying it was a private matter and still under investigation. Don’t want Yasser to get angry and throw stuff at them. Pascal Fenaux, a journalist specializing in Israel and the PA areas for a weekly French newspaper, said reluctance to comments was not surprising because of the solidarity Palestinians feel they have to show in the face of criticism. "It is not well regarded to discuss how President Arafat runs the Palestinian administration," said Fenaux. "What is surprising, though, is that Suha Arafat leads an unusual lifestyle for someone who doesn’t have a specific government position and whose whole status is to be the wife of the president of the Palestinian Authority." She lives the textbook lifestyle of the wife of a corrupt third world dictator. France is full of them, they probably all get together for lunch. In an interview with the London-based newspaper Al Hayat, Mrs. Arafat accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of spreading rumors about money-laundering to distract media attention away from corruption allegations against him. "It’s the jooo’s spreading lies about me!" If French investigators find evidence of illicit activity by Mrs. Arafat, the case will be handed to an investigating judge who will formulate charges. The French investigation comes at the same time as the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) is also looking into allegations that some of the European Union’s 350 million euro ($436 million) a year budgetary aid package to the PA may have been misappropriated. Most likely both investigations are tied together at some point. Pieces of the same puzzle, it remains to be seen if they want to put them together. OLAF spokesman Alessandro Buttice said the investigation was continuing. "At this point, we have no proof that there has been any misappropriation of EU aid toward any other purpose." Buttice said he expected the investigation to go on at least through March. The fact there was no proof yet only meant the probe had yet to find any evidence, he added. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #6 The $1.2m must be for pain and suffering, we’ve all seen Yasser. We all seen Sura too.... the 1.2Megabucks is probably to keep her in Paris.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-2-27 5:32:49 PM |
| #5 So if OLAF, LENA, or whoever finds out the corruption and moneylaundering connection with Suha and the 'Fish, are they going to demand all the money back and prosecute, or are they going to issue statements and let this whole case blow away slowly. It seems that they never did anything for the "Oil for Palaces" scandal, so why should we expect any action here? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-2-27 3:15:31 PM |
| #4 "At this point, we have no proof that there has been any misappropriation of EU aid toward any other purpose." Take a tour of PA controlled areas. Nuff said. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-2-27 2:58:03 PM |
| #3 Do you wash Euros in hot, warm, or cold? And should you use regular bleach, or color-safe? |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-2-27 2:10:11 PM |
| #2 The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF's) partner agency's acronym is LENA. ba da bump. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2004-2-27 2:09:39 PM |
| #1 "she rarely visits the PA self-rule areas" Yasser has no son. She has no desire to breed another bun in the oven for him, I'll bet....eewwwwwwwww! my eyes! That was a nasty visual. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-2-27 1:54:35 PM |