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Last-minute property deal emerges in Epstein documents
Jeffrey Epstein transferred nearly $15 million to secure a lavish Marrakech palace the day before his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges, newly unsealed U.S. Department of Justice records show.
Years-long pursuit of Bin Ennakhil
Epstein had sought the 1,300-craftsman-built palace, Bin Ennakhil-meaning "between the palm trees"-since 2011. Price disputes with German waste magnate Gunter Kiss stalled negotiations for years. Kiss initially rejected Epstein's lowball offer for the €55 million estate, calling it insulting.
By 2018, Epstein resumed talks, sending his longtime girlfriend Karyna Shuliak to inspect the property and submit bids under the guise of acting for billionaire investor Leon Black. The ruse failed, and Kiss learned Epstein was the true buyer but continued discussions.
The $14.95 million wire transfer
On July 5, 2019, Epstein signed a $14.95 million wire transfer to purchase the offshore company holding Bin Ennakhil. The deal, valued at €18 million, was his final major financial move before U.S. authorities arrested him at a New York airport on July 6.
Three days later, Epstein's accountant Richard Kahn canceled the transfer, and the sale never closed.
Speculation over Morocco as a refuge
Morocco has no U.S. extradition treaty, fueling media theories that Epstein may have viewed the country as a potential sanctuary. A former unnamed associate dismissed the idea, saying Epstein "had no clue" about his impending arrest but acknowledged it "would make sense if he was thinking of a potential sanctuary where he could still live like a king."
The released files contain no direct evidence Epstein discussed Morocco as an escape plan.
Epstein's Moroccan ties span decades
Epstein's connections to Morocco date to the early 2000s. Virginia Giuffre, a key accuser, wrote in her memoir that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell flew her to Tangier to evaluate luxury properties for interior design inspiration, which Epstein later used to remodel his private island.
In 2002, Epstein attended Moroccan King Mohammed VI's wedding with Maxwell, invited by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. After Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting underage sex and his 2010 release from house arrest, his interest in Morocco intensified.
Documents show Epstein asked former UK Labour minister Peter Mandelson in 2010 to find him an assistant who could "find a house in Marrakesh." From 2012 onward, he made regular visits to the upscale Palmeraie district, where he stayed near Qatari royal Jabor al Thani, whom Epstein called his "Arab brother."
Tax strategy and Christie's link
At one point, Kensington Luxury Properties, Epstein's real estate agent and Christie's local representative, proposed a dual-pricing scheme: register the property sale at €10 million with Moroccan authorities while paying €20 million for the offshore company's shares. The plan aimed to reduce taxes while allowing Epstein to hold the title in his name.
"This transaction did not violate any tax regulations. Mr. Epstein wanted to pay registration fees in Morocco, even though he was under no obligation to do so... in order to own the property in his own name."
Marc Leon, Kensington Luxury Properties partner
Epstein ultimately opted to buy the offshore company outright but had not finalized Moroccan registration before his arrest.
