Journalists have discovered a unique asset in the property portfolio of the late Kazakh businessman Alexander Mashkevich — a villa in the south of France once owned by the African dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
According to the Telegram channel "Access to the Sea", the mansion, set on a plot of 3.2 hectares and valued at €120-150 million, is located in the picturesque commune of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
The property was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The estate has changed hands several times, including ownership by a British businessman and the famous Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis along with his actress wife Silvana Mangano.
A new chapter in the villa's history was opened by the African dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who, during his rule over the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was listed among the most corrupt state leaders in the world.
During his 25-year reign, his personal fortune was estimated at between $4 billion and $10 billion, while the country's external debt reached $14 billion. Mobutu bought up elite properties all over the world, including this villa.
In 2007, Alexander Mashkevich and his wife Larisa became the owners of the French company SCI Casa Del Mare, acquiring the rights to the former estate of the African dictator.
The luxurious mansion includes 15 bedrooms, guest accommodation, a cinema, a wine cellar, several fountains, a swimming pool with panoramic views of the sea and Monaco, a tennis court, and access to a public beach.
It is noted that Mashkevich's connection to the Democratic Republic of the Congo does not end there. The group of companies Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), which he managed, operates large copper mines in the Congo.
It has become known that the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) brought charges of bribery against officials from the DRC government, but was unable to prove them. Meanwhile, Mashkevich's daughter, Anna, was fined for concealing evidence in the case concerning bribes to African officials.
Similar suspicions pursued ERG in other countries as well. In Guatemala, a prosecutor accused the company's management of bribing the president, who allegedly received money rolled up in an ordinary carpet. The investigation was not completed, but the company lost a major contract for the modernisation of the port of Puerto Barrios.
It was reported on 22 March that businessman Alexander Mashkevich had died. It was stated that he passed away after a long illness.