Day: 5 December 2016

Unaoil, the Monaco company facing investigation by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), has asked for a high-level judicial review of the handling of the case.

Hugo Keith, a lawyer for Unaoil and its top three executives, argued in front of a judge in London that the SFO had misled the authorities in Monaco ahead of a raid on the office and homes in the Principality of Ata Ahsani, Cyrus Ahsani and Saman Ahsani.

In papers filed with the court, Keith said: “Had the true position been conveyed, the request would have looked much less urgent; the contention that there was ongoing illegality would have appeared much less convincing… This was, quite simply, far too broad a formulation and amounted to an impermissible fishing expedition.”

Sixty-five boxes of seized materials were taken to London in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, Keith also said. Unaoil claims that materials taken to the UK included papers that had no connection to Iraq, while the SFO’s request for Monaco’s assistance centred on allegations of bribery in Iraq.

To celebrate the second birthdays of Hereditary Prince Jacques and HSH Princess Gabriella, Monaco’s official publication, le Journal de Monaco, is publishing a supplement devoted to the event and embellished with many photographs.

This week le Journal de Monaco will not appear online on Friday, as is customary, but on Saturday, December 10, at 5:05 pm, the exact time of the delivery of the children two years ago.

The Journal and the special supplement will be available for €1.90 from December 12, at the Journal’s headquarters, located at the Ministry of State, Place de la Visitation-Monaco Ville. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5 pm.

Monaco resident Berit Legrande founded the non-profit The Animal Fund (TAF) in March 2015 with a mission to protect, save and actively assist dolphins and whales that are victims of maltreatment, slaughter, pollution and overfishing.

With her team of individuals from different cultures, backgrounds and work experiences, TAF is united in educating others of the danger and consequences of cruelty and extinction but to also report on progress made.

“It’s not just the whaling or dolphin industry that those beautiful mammals have to protect themselves against,” Berit, a Dane who competes for the Monaco water ski team (and has her blackbelt in jiu-jitsu) told Monaco Life, “it’s indeed also pollution, climate change, loss of food sources, toxic substances and digesting of tons of plastic. What is there to be seen in nature if we ruin it all? And what will be left in a few years for our children?”

While TAF, a registered Monaco association, holds meetings across the year at Maison des Association, this Wednesday, December 7, they will be celebrating the holiday season with a Christmas dinner at 8 pm at Address restaurant (16 Rue de Millo, La Condamine). The evening promises “Fun, food, drinks and a positive spirit for the ocean, the whales and the dolphins” with a three-course dinner, including wine, water, coffee, tea for € 50/person. Reservations directly with the restaurant requested. Dress Code: Christmas hat … and whatever else you feel like wearing!

TAF’s AGM is on January 11, 2017. For donations or volunteer information, see theanimalfund.net