Home of Osama bin Laden’s half-brother raided by French police
French police have searched the villa of Osama bin Laden's Swiss-based half-brother, as part of a money-laundering probe.
French judicial sources confirmed the raid on Yeslam Binladin’s Cannes home, but did not say what the search had revealed.
Binladin – a Swiss citizen who runs a finance firm, Saudi Investment Company (SICO), from Geneva – has repeatedly denied having any contact with his infamous relative.
Last December, Paris judges launched an investigation into money-laundering allegations leveled against Binladin’s company.
Binladin – who spells his name differently from Osama bin Laden – has denied allegations that SICO funneled money to his half-brother’s al Qaeda network, blamed by Washington for the September 11 terror attacks.
The financier has repeatedly denounced the attacks.
Binladin’s 7,000 square metre villa on the French Riviera has been in the family since 1997.
He has lived in Geneva since 1985.
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