myosotis
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MJ glove, £2m Bugatti and £100m mansion used as evidence of playboy 'looting his own country'
The original thread for this has been archived:
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/t...Minister-Corruption-Currents?highlight=obiang
but the case against this minister (Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea's president ) is still ongoing in France.
A £2 million personalised Bugatti supercar and one of Michael Jackson ’s jewel-encrusted gloves have been presented as evidence against an allegedly corrupt African playboy.
Teodorin Obiang is also said to have owned a £100 million mansion on one of Paris' top streets complete with a personal disco, cinema and bathrooms with solid gold taps.
Lawyers for Obiang, vice president of Equatorial Guinea, today appeared in court in Paris where he is accused of "shamelessly" looting his oil-rich country, leaving millions in a state of absolute poverty.
The 47-year-old faces 10 years in prison if he is found guilty of a range of charges, including stealing public funds, money laundering and breach of trust.
However, he has refused to attend the Paris Correctional Court, and says there is no chance of him serving any sentence because he will stay in Africa.
All the allegations relate to Obiang’s billionaire lifestyle across the world, but particularly in the French capital.
The house in Avenue Foch – one of the most prestigious roads in the world – was seized in 2011, along with eleven cars including the Bugatti Veyron, which was etched with Obiang’s name.
Also in his fleet was a top-of-the-range Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, and Porsches – all of which he used to ferry glamorous blonde girlfriends around Paris.
Obiang was also well known for driving his lovers down to the Riviera, where his 76-metre super yacht, the "Ebony Shine", was also seized. It was said to be worth £78 million.
Other prize possessions referenced in court include the crystal-covered glove worn by the late superstar Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour in 1988.
Obiang bought it for hundreds of thousands of dollars soon afterwards.
In 2009, Obiang also bought 109 lots during an auction of a collection of goods that had belonged to the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge.
He splashed out £18m in all, picking works of art, as well as £10m worth of jewels, and a champagne bowl costing £65,000.
Also in the collection of seized property were 64 pairs of designer shoes, most of them by Dolce & Gabbana.
Obiang’s trial is hugely important for France, because it marks the first time that the country has taken legal action against billionaire dictators using Paris as a bolt-hole.
Source Mirror.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The West African state's government launched a bid at the International Court of Justice to prevent the trial from going ahead, arguing Mr Obiang had diplomatic immunity.
The United Nations' court turned down the request last month.
In November, Swiss authorities seized 11 cars belonging to Mr Obiang, accusing him of money-laundering.
Among them was reportedly a Porsche valued at more than $830,000 and a Bugatti Veyron which sells for $2m.
In 2014, Mr Obiang agreed to surrender a Malibu mansion, a Ferrari and Michael Jackson memorabilia as part of a settlement with US authorities.
The US had filed claims against his US-based assets worth more than $70m, alleging they were proceeds of corruption.
Equatorial Guinea, a small country on the west coast of Africa, struck oil in 1995 but most of its population still lives in poverty.
Its President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, is Africa's longest serving leader.
He seized power in 1979, and promoted his son to the post of vice-president in 2012.
Mr Obiang has always said that "he earned the money legally in his country," Mr Marsigny told AFP.
Source: BBC Online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38488727
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US officials have already forced Obiang to forfeit property after accusing him of “shamelessly” looting his country. In a settlement, Obiang agreed to hand over more than $30m (£24.5m) worth of properties, including a vast villa in Malibu, California, and a dozen luxury cars.
Obiang, however, managed to keep his $38m private jet and collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia, which includes a crystal-studded glove.
Source: The Guardian online
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/02/french-trial-teodorin-obiang-wealth-equatorial-guinea
(So he still has the glove and other MJ memorabilia in his possession)
The original thread for this has been archived:
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/t...Minister-Corruption-Currents?highlight=obiang
but the case against this minister (Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea's president ) is still ongoing in France.
A £2 million personalised Bugatti supercar and one of Michael Jackson ’s jewel-encrusted gloves have been presented as evidence against an allegedly corrupt African playboy.
Teodorin Obiang is also said to have owned a £100 million mansion on one of Paris' top streets complete with a personal disco, cinema and bathrooms with solid gold taps.
Lawyers for Obiang, vice president of Equatorial Guinea, today appeared in court in Paris where he is accused of "shamelessly" looting his oil-rich country, leaving millions in a state of absolute poverty.
The 47-year-old faces 10 years in prison if he is found guilty of a range of charges, including stealing public funds, money laundering and breach of trust.
However, he has refused to attend the Paris Correctional Court, and says there is no chance of him serving any sentence because he will stay in Africa.
All the allegations relate to Obiang’s billionaire lifestyle across the world, but particularly in the French capital.
The house in Avenue Foch – one of the most prestigious roads in the world – was seized in 2011, along with eleven cars including the Bugatti Veyron, which was etched with Obiang’s name.
Also in his fleet was a top-of-the-range Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, and Porsches – all of which he used to ferry glamorous blonde girlfriends around Paris.
Obiang was also well known for driving his lovers down to the Riviera, where his 76-metre super yacht, the "Ebony Shine", was also seized. It was said to be worth £78 million.
Other prize possessions referenced in court include the crystal-covered glove worn by the late superstar Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour in 1988.
Obiang bought it for hundreds of thousands of dollars soon afterwards.
In 2009, Obiang also bought 109 lots during an auction of a collection of goods that had belonged to the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge.
He splashed out £18m in all, picking works of art, as well as £10m worth of jewels, and a champagne bowl costing £65,000.
Also in the collection of seized property were 64 pairs of designer shoes, most of them by Dolce & Gabbana.
Obiang’s trial is hugely important for France, because it marks the first time that the country has taken legal action against billionaire dictators using Paris as a bolt-hole.
Source Mirror.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The West African state's government launched a bid at the International Court of Justice to prevent the trial from going ahead, arguing Mr Obiang had diplomatic immunity.
The United Nations' court turned down the request last month.
In November, Swiss authorities seized 11 cars belonging to Mr Obiang, accusing him of money-laundering.
Among them was reportedly a Porsche valued at more than $830,000 and a Bugatti Veyron which sells for $2m.
In 2014, Mr Obiang agreed to surrender a Malibu mansion, a Ferrari and Michael Jackson memorabilia as part of a settlement with US authorities.
The US had filed claims against his US-based assets worth more than $70m, alleging they were proceeds of corruption.
Equatorial Guinea, a small country on the west coast of Africa, struck oil in 1995 but most of its population still lives in poverty.
Its President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, is Africa's longest serving leader.
He seized power in 1979, and promoted his son to the post of vice-president in 2012.
Mr Obiang has always said that "he earned the money legally in his country," Mr Marsigny told AFP.
Source: BBC Online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38488727
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US officials have already forced Obiang to forfeit property after accusing him of “shamelessly” looting his country. In a settlement, Obiang agreed to hand over more than $30m (£24.5m) worth of properties, including a vast villa in Malibu, California, and a dozen luxury cars.
Obiang, however, managed to keep his $38m private jet and collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia, which includes a crystal-studded glove.
Source: The Guardian online
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/02/french-trial-teodorin-obiang-wealth-equatorial-guinea
(So he still has the glove and other MJ memorabilia in his possession)
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