The late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in August 2019 in an alleged suicide in his prison cell while awaiting trial, tried to buy a multimillion-dollar property in Morocco a day before his arrest, the BBC reported.
According to the latest tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on January 30, Epstein had been trying to recruit Bin Ennakhil since 2011; however, disagreements with the seller over the valuation and structure of the deal dragged on for several years.
Bin Ennakhil is described as a grand palace, built in the luxurious Palmeraei district of Marrakesh. Widely regarded as an architectural gem, the palace was built by around 1,300 artisans and showcases intricate carvings and detailed mosaic work.
Bin Ennakhil, Morocco(Photo: Instagram/ @atelierduzellige)
Just a day before his arrest on July 6, 2019, the disgraced financier signed a $14.95 million bank transfer after agreeing to buy an offshore company that owned Bin Ennakhil for €18 million.
Released documents indicate that the July 5, 2019 wire transfer was his last major financial transaction before he was arrested by US authorities on sex-trafficking charges after returning to New York. However, three days after Epstein was arrested, his accountant Richard Kahn canceled the wire transfer, after which the purchase never took place.
Read also | Did the DOJ remove Howard Lutnick’s picture from the Epstein files? Here’s what we know
Why did Epstein want to buy property in Morocco?
Reports indicated that Morocco had no extradition treaty with the United States, leading to speculation that one of his motivations for buying the property was to retreat to the country to avoid arrest if new charges were brought against him.
Citing a former associate of Epstein’s, a BBC report claimed the convicted sex offender “had no idea” of his arrest because he had made the transaction the day before. The associate went on to say, “It would make sense if he was thinking about a potential sanctuary where he could still live as a king.”
Read also | He called for Epstein case, asked ‘unusual’ questions about UFOs: Hillary Clinton
Epstein’s connection to Morocco
Reports suggest that Epstein’s connection to Morocco dates back to the early 2000s. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, recounted in her memoirs that he and longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell flew Giuffre to Tangier to look at the interior design of many luxury properties. At the time, the financier was considering incorporating Moroccan-inspired elements into renovations on his private island estate.
In 2002, Epstein and Maxwell attended the wedding of King Mohammed of Morocco, reportedly after being invited by former US President Bill Clinton.
Epstein, who was arrested in 2008 on charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution, was later released from house arrest in 2010, after which his interest in Morocco reportedly increased. That same year, Epstein asked former UK Labor government minister Peter Mandelson to find him an assistant to help him find a house in Marrakesh.
The records also indicate that since 2012, the convicted sex offender has regularly traveled to Morocco, often staying in the Palmeraie district, a wealthy enclave popular with expats. Among those in his circle was Jabor Al Thani, a member of Qatar’s ruling family, whom he reportedly referred to as his “Arab brother”.
Epstein’s obsession with Bin Ennakhil
The BBC report suggests that Epstein relied on his long-time girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, to lead the search for the Marrakesh property, with numerous visits and meetings recorded in emails sent under her name.
Epstein believed that the property, owned by German waste tycoon Gunter Kiss, was allegedly overvalued at €55 million, and the former made an offer that offended Kiss, so he refused to deal with Epstein again.
Subsequently, Epstein relied on his girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, and his network of contacts in Morocco to conduct further inspections of the property. In 2018, he visited the site himself, after which Shuliak made the final bids, allegedly claiming to be acting on behalf of Leon Black, a billionaire investor and longtime Epstein associate.
The DOJ documents reveal that Kensington Luxury Properties is proposing a “sales and tax strategy” to Epstein, in which the palace would be registered with Moroccan officials as being sold for €10 million, while the €20 million transaction would be for shares in the offshore company that owned Bin Ennakhil.
Ultimately, Epstein decided to acquire the property by purchasing the shares of the offshore company that owned it. At the time of his arrest in 2019, he was still considering how the property would be formally registered in Morocco.
