OLIVE PRESS
The
GIBRALTAR
FREE
Vol. 7 Issue 195
www.theolivepress.es
The Rock’s ONLY free local paper April 5th - April 18th 2023
At last! Tunnel open after 14 years, see page 4
BUTCHER DUCKS TRIAL Gibraltar-linked tyrant Rifaat alAssad ‘in intensive care’ as court case due to resume
tator Bashar al-Assad is currently in an Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Damascus, claim his lawyers. Al-Assad - who gassed his opponents, including children - had previously been the owner of Gibraltar office block, 6-9 Europort, until he controversially sold his stake cheaply in 2018. As the Olive Press exclusively revealed, the 86-year-old had cashed in his shares in the complex for around £13 million under market
By John Culatto
value. The sale to the Isola family was criticised by Together Gibraltar leader Marlene Hassan Nahon, who said the £17.5 million sale should never have happened. It came as most other European countries had embargoed his hundreds of properties and bank accounts at the time. However, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo later insisted ‘the rule of law’ had prevailed after a High Court rubber stamped the transfer of ownership. He also assured Parliament that law enforcement had cooperated fully with a French investigation that sentenced him to four years in prison in 2020. Authorities will now seize al-AsSee sad’s assets in Spain’s France, which Weirdest add up to at Easter least €90 mil-
Will it rain on the parade? While the tourists might disagree, most locals and long-term expats are preying for the heavens to open this Easter as we approach a summer of drought...And as the Spanish will tell you it always seems to pour during Semana Santa. Happy Easter come rain or shine!
+
Serious savings on currency transfers to and from Spain
Scan here for your customised quote:
THE SKY DOCTOR
+
ALL AREAS COVERED
4G UNLIMITED INTERNET IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV ALSO IPTV, SATELLITE TV
tel: (0034) 952 763 840 info@theskydoctor.com www.theskydoctor.com
D
Cookshop, Household Goods, General Hardware, Beach Accessories & more 46 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 75188 Email: bia@gibraltar.gi Facebook: GibraltarBIA
EVIL: Rifaat al-Assad laundered hundreds of millions, while (right) how we reported it lion in value. Al-Assad - who earned his nickname when he killed 25,000 people in a ruthless crackdown in 1982 - is alleged to have also invested hundreds of millions in Spain, with over 100 properties in Marbella alone. Most of them were bought via shell companies set up in Gibraltar by disgraced accountancy firm Marrache and Co. Prosecutors expect a similar verdict in Spain, except his assets are eight times greater, valued at €700 mil-
BAD AIR: In Gib
CHoKInG
ss.com
CHANGES April 25th AFOOT - May
Vol. 3 Issue 69 www.gibralta
rolivepress.com April
THE disgraced Gibraltar accountancy firm run by the Marrache brothers was ‘the most important’ part of Al-Assad’s money laundering scheme, court documents claim. In a pre-trial report it was alleged Isaac and Benjamin Marrache helped him and his family operate a complex network of dozens of shell companies to help move around millions and invest in property in Spain. “The most important gestores (financial managers) in Gibraltar were the Marrache brothers, who have already been sentenced to severe prison terms,” the documents obtained by the Olive Press read. The Gibraltar connection began in 1998, when Al-Assad allegedly set up High Mountain Estates LTD in the Bahamas, which in turn was owned by the Alhambra Trust, also owned by Al-Assad. The former was the umbrella to 29 different Gibraltar companies, 1% of each of those being owned by another company, Groove Limited. In other words, High Mountain Estates Ltd owned 99% of each of these 29 companies and Groove Limited owned the remaining 1% of each.
1
8th 2018
The Rock’s only free local paper
FREE
An Olive Press campaign to landmark breakthroug leads lethal drug which killed h for countless expats
SEE PAGE 6
25th - May 8th 2018
DeAl wIth the DeVIl
GREEn groups are ing that pollution from warnships could be seriously damaging the health of Gibraltarians. A damning report by Ecologistas en Accion, alongside German ecological group NABU, claims that ultra-fine particles from boats 1982 - is currently under invesStraits are up to 70 in the tigation in many countries. times higher than in cities. He is alleged to have invested The study claimed that hundreds of millions into one recent reading measured erty in France and Spain prop- with 143,000 ultra-fine particles more than 500 properties per cubic centimetre Marbella alone, it has been in in the alair near the Rock. leged. While the local group Spanish police raided 15 Verdemar admitted the measure properties in Marbella lastof his was taken just after after judge Jose de la year Mata parture of a ship thethe delaunched a money laundering difference between ‘normal’ By laurence Dollimore investigation. levels of approximately city Many of his Spanish properties 2,000 particles per cubic centimetre were allegedly bought through is ‘alarming’. A GIBRALTAR office trusts set up in Gibraltar. owned by the uncle ofbuilding According to a high level Gidictator Bashar al-AssadSyrian braltar MAKING source, Assad is ‘likely A KILLING: is beSerious ing bought in a knock-down selling the Gibraltar Rifaat cashing in via It added such levels deal by a company linked Isola to unlock some cash property could to a versial deal was brokered by while cause ‘serious environmental government minister. accounts and property his a sister company - Fiduciary and his own civilians - includand health problems’ court ruling, the property Europort Trust, managed been embargoed in Spainhave ing many children to the - also run by the family local population. and ing sold to Glenthorne is be- France’. nancial Services Minister by Fi- of trusts bloody civil war. - during the Trust, lawrence, Albert and Albert The European Commision Isola and two of his relatives, Peter Ironically the buildHe added: “Whatever way which, again, is Isola. has already calculated you selling 6-9 Europort owned is The CRIME look at this, this is bad ing houses various 75% owned by the purchase is set to by for Giup to 50,000 people die that ‘the Butcher go key braltar PlC. It is not good family trusts of preof Hama’ government through No bail for maturely from air pollution for al-Assad for £13 million Rifaat Assad’s despite hundreds of bodies, our reputation. Spanish lawrence, Albert includcaused by ships, in particular jewel thief a valuation price, a court under France, properties around ing the Financial “It is surprising that the and Peter Isola. judgeSpain and the French due to emissions of ment shows. and Spanish judges did As revealed by the ing currently embargoedUK be- Intelligence Unit and nitrogen oxide. sulphur The sensational not by the force (GFIU) and even Olive Press, last isan embargo in Gibraltar ruling authorities, while he is Both groups are calling the Isola family tried - which probed being too. sue, Rifaat - who to keep for money laundering, Albert Isola’s own much stricter regulations for private - reveals FOUND IN “Ultimately where did Ministry of Finanearned the nickFUENGIROL pollutants by these vessels, on erty was bought that the prop- corruption and tax evasion. this A money come from in the cial Services. name ‘the Butcher in for £17.5 It also comes to light a bid to cut back on pollution. first in the Under 091 lion, well under its official mil- same place?” of Hama’ when he the deal, month that Syrian £31 million value. A legal source added: killed up to 25,000 tor Bashar Assad was dicta- which has been Continues on Page “This accused And furthermore, the 4 is huge and the whole people in a ruthcontro- again of gassing opponents revealed by a stinks. It’s unlikely to go thing public Supreme less crackdown on away BUTCHER: Last issue in a hurry.” Sunni Muslims in
Trust linked to government minister buys key Rock property from Syria’s evil ‘Butcher of Hama’
2
www.gibraltarolivepress.c
om
NEWS IN BRIEF
Trial set for exiled Syrian who used companiesGib to invest ‘stolen money’ into Spanish properties
Walk of shame
TWO Gibraltarian men have been extradited from Spain, frontier, aftervia the land a European Arrest Warrant was issued for GBH last August.
Ganja getaway
A DRUG who rammedsmuggler a Guardia Civil leaving an police car, pitalised, officer hoshas been rested. The arold from La 60-yearcaught with Linea was cannabis. 27 bales of
Dole dupe
SOME 43 people have been identified in rity racket a Social Secumore than that defrauded Conspirators €15 million. were found in Cádiz, Granada, Malaga and Sevilla.
Stories and features in this edition of Gibraltar’s original community newspaper
Washed out April 11th
- April 24th
2018
THE uncle dent Basharof Syrian PresiA SPANISH al-Assad is nally set to refused bail thief has been fiface trial following a Europe-wide after being caught with leged ill-gotten probe into alellery worth watches and jew50,000 pounds. Dubbed the gains. Builder Antonio Hama’, Rifaat ‘Butcher of his properties Sanchez, from Miguel Leon in Marbella al-Assad, 80, and Puerto amassed his from Banus last been charged Marbella, has year when Syria’s coffers by Rifaat during the fortune in Syria after judge Jose 1980s, before de la Mata he was exiled the property with theft at legedly using al- launched a money laundering 1980s. in the Wharf, where in Cormorant Gibraltar and companies in investigation. Rifaat and he was undertaking a renovation chase more Panama to pur- A total of 76 companies believed to his relatives are than 500 proper- 16 people job. The owners have bought and properties, ties in Spain informed police 503 ‘BUTCHER’: and dozens property connected including garages, of items missing chateaus in Rifaat of accounts empire, had to the holiday homes, France. once the their apartments works had been Spanish cops France. luxury frozen. completed. raided 15 Some and countryhotel His largest While tates. of lieved €300 million Sanchez esdenied is the 3,000property in Spain the theft to have been is be- Most of forensic hectare the looted in the Marbellaproperties are La Maquina, which estate of matched his DNA analysis takes up a found third as well as to DNA on the jewellery in and of the area of Benahavis es. is worth a boxreported €60 The million. builder The total that he had argued in court market value merely moved all the family’s of the boxes properties and other in Spain is sonal belongings perreported to whopping €691 be a wardrobe stored in a million. so he could Last year, replace flooring. confiscated €862 million was by the French thorities, where auhe is set to on trial later go Scientific He may also this year. However this Switzerland, face charges in with was at odds been under where he has view his initial police interwhen he denied investigation since 2013 them or touching seeing for war crimes allegedly committed inside the wardrobe.anything 1980s. in the Stipendiary Rifaat’s brother Magistrate expelled him Charles Pitto from Syria denied bail, he feared hein the 80s because insisting his account was organising was odds with political coup. the court’s at An announce-a dence eviment on a and the the comingtrial is expected in scientific evidence.supporting weeks.
AN Irish expat wanted a dissident republican for the murder of been arrested five years for his trial and disappeared Dean Evans, on the Costa del ago has girlfriend. Sol. with his men chargedfrom Dublin, is one Evans, along with 35-year-old of-three Peterwith the murder of three McGrathand of fatherButterfly, Edward dead in a ly, was due and 46-year-old Sharif who was car park in to stand trial shot nected March 2013. County Meath on charges Kelwith the murder in Butterfly. conSpanish police Butterfly was of 35-year-old arrested 27-year-old ans on Thursday in a found collapsed Ev- fromcar park after he had lunchtime rola. a car and died in Fuengibeen A European shortly after. shot at It was alleged by the Specialarrest warrant was while he was that Evans shot issued Criminal Butterfly sat in last year, after Evans Court in Ireland McGrath and Kellythe back of the car. failed to show life in were up Evans.prison after standingsentenced to trial without
lion. They estimate that he has over 500 properties in Spain, including businesses like the Hotel Park Plaza Sanchez will court on May next appear in 2.
Sick of smudge s? NEW UltraClear
SuperClean treatment Stays cleaner for longer
UltraClear SuperClean lenses attract They’re good less dust, repel at protecting more water your wallet, and resist more too – get the smudges than treatment free standard lenses. with glasses from 89€.
Marbella Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 12 (next to Massimo Request an appointment Dutti). Tel. 952 online at specsavers.es 863 332
Stays cleaner
for longer than
OLIVE PRESS
standard lenses.
(GIBRALTAR)
Treatment usually
45€. Cannot
– 170mm x 256mm
be used with
– Colour
other offers.
Ask in store
for details. ©2018
Specsavers.
All rights reserved.
11 April
European trips leaving weekly Transport and removal services
UK: +44 772 213 6148 SPAIN: +34 634 682 048
Suites in Benabola and the Plaza Beach Banus. He is facing eight years in prison Adept Transport Ltd
adepttransport 1
www.adepttransportltd.com
MONEY FLOW:
How Rifaat and
Europort link
to Isolas
Continues on page 4
DISGRACED GIB ACCOUNTANTS ‘RAN AL-ASSAD EMPIRE’
X
Events on p6 and Rain God on our back page
Est. 1946
www.gibral LT tarolivepre
Courtesy of GBC
AN evil tyrant, dubbed the ‘Butcher of Hama’, may finally escape justice in a money laundering trial. Syrian Rifaat al-Assad, who owned property on the Rock and used a Gibraltar-based company to run his affairs in Europe, is accused of laundering €700 million in property in Spain. But it is deemed unlikely that he will turn up for his trial at Spain’s national court in May. The uncle of the current Syrian dic-
In turn, Hiba Development SA owned 99% of Groove Limited, with the remaining 1% being owned by Raja Barakat, the wife of Rifaat Al-Assad. It was a highly complex system built to hide the true owners of the companies which would acquire millions of euros worth of assets in Spain. These included several properties within the luxury Gray d’Albion development in Puerto Banus, which would later be seized in 2017. These companies were then transferred to Spain where, with the help of Marrache & Co, they constantly changed hands among Assad family members and trusted allies. Benjamin and Isaac Marrache, the two brothers mentioned in the papers, were sentenced to between seven and 11 years each on charges of conspiracy to defraud in 2014. Marrache & Co’s involvement with the Assads ceased in 2010, when both were first arrested and their offices raided. They were jailed in a separate case for conspiracy to defraud millions of pounds from clients of the collapsed law firm and have been disbarred as lawyers.