Court of Appeal in Paris upholds conviction of Rifaat al-Assad for fraudulently accumulating € 90 million

PARIS — The Court of Appeal in Paris announced its ruling to uphold the conviction of Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Bashar al-Assad, head of the Syrian Ba’ath regime.

Rifaat al-Assad was convicted by the Paris Correctional Court on 17 June 2020 to four years in prison and for fraudulently accumulating assets worth 90 million euros in France. His luxury properties were also ordered confiscated.

Rifaat al-Assad made his fortune by embezzling Syrian public funds, evading taxes, and illegally employing domestic workers.