Sons of former Yemeni president on trial in France over alleged stolen assets

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On Monday, Ahmed and Khaled Saleh, sons of late Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, went on trial in Paris for alleged money laundering, embezzlement, and corruption. French prosecutors accused the men of using embezzled public funds to purchase €16 million in luxury real estate near the Champs-Élysées between 2005 and 2011. The investigation began in 2019 after French authorities received a request for legal assistance from Switzerland regarding suspicious fund transfers totaling over €26 million into accounts held by Ahmed Saleh. The case relies on UN Security Council reports alleging that the former president amassed between $32 billion and $60 billion during his 33-year rule by diverting resources from Yemen’s oil, gas, and public service sectors.

Consequences

The French courts have already seized several of the properties linked to the investigation. The outcome of the trial may determine whether the seized assets remain permanently forfeited or are returned to the possession of the Saleh family.

Sources

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