A French judge opened an official formal investigation in accusations against Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Syrian Regime President Bashar al-Assad, a source said.
Rifaat al-Assad is an opponent of his nephew’s regime.
Rifaat is accused of tax fraud and money-laundering. The source informed that he is suspected of having acquired his wealth in France illegally.
He was put under investigation on June 9 after an interrogation with a French financial judge and was also banned from leaving France apart from trips to London for health reasons.
Two anti-corruption associations filed complaints against him in 2013. French authorities began looking into whether there was evidence of corruption, bribery and money laundering in 2014.
Rifaat is the younger brother of former president Hafez al-Assad, and has lived in exile since 1984.
