Article:
New documents have revealed that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein made a failed attempt to purchase a lavish palace in Morocco just months before his death. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the documents made public by the US Department of Justice show that Epstein used offshore financial structures in his attempt to buy the opulent palace in Marrakesh in 2019. The 11-acre estate, known as Ben Alakhel, features high walls, fountains, gardens, and a hamam.
The purchase was being facilitated through British Virgin Islands and Liechtenstein-based companies and trusts to avoid taxes, with a reported price tag of approximately €25 million. In March 2019, Deutsche Bank reportedly rejected a large wire transfer linked to Epstein, and in April, he opened new companies and accounts at Charles Schwab Bank, including one for the purchase of the Moroccan palace.
The release of new documents related to Epstein has sparked international attention, with the revelation of millions of dollars being transferred to Switzerland in June and July 2019, only to be recalled or cancelled due to concerns over negative media reports and Epstein’s potential flight. On July 4, 2019, another wire transfer attempt was made, but it was also unsuccessful due to insufficient funds.
Two days later, on July 6, 2019, Epstein was arrested at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport on charges of child sex trafficking. He was held in a New York jail, where he was found dead in his cell a few weeks later, with the medical examiner ruling his death as a suicide.
The Moroccan palace, which could have potentially served as Epstein’s haven, remains in the ownership of its previous owner. In other news, the Nobel Peace Committee’s former chairman and Norway’s former prime minister, Thorbjorn Jagland, was hospitalized after a failed attempt at taking his own life. US Senator Lindsey Graham has called on President Donald Trump to take action against Iran, warning that military build-ups in the Middle East will embolden Tehran.
Russian media has reported that a Dutch diplomat was caught smuggling Starlink kits and satellite phones in Iran. According to the IPSR, security forces have increased operations in recent days based on intelligence reports.
