Makhlouf appeals to Assad a second time after security forces assault his employees
North-Press Agency
Syrian billionaire and member of the ruling family in Syria Rami Makhlouf appealed to Syrian President Bashar Assad to intervene to do him justice and save his companies from collapse after the Syrian security apparatus arrested a number of his company's employees.
Via a video posted on his Facebook account, Makhlouf, who is the son of Assad’s uncle, said that he is “under pressure by the security apparatus in an unacceptable manner.”
The video published by Makhlouf sheds light on Assad's inner circle amid reports that Makhlouf had fallen into conflict with Bashar Assad, and because of this conflict he was stripped of most of his property.
“Was anyone expecting the security apparatus to come to the companies of Rami Makhlouf, the most significant supporter, server, and sponsor of this apparatus during the war? Unfortunately, things started to turn in a different way,” Makhlouf wondered.
“The power should not be used to pressure people and force them to concede, but it should be used for their advantage.” Makhlouf said, demanding Assad to put an end to the interference surrounding the decision-maker in reference to his cousin Bashar Assad.
Makhlouf, who has long been seen as the most powerful businessman in Syria, described the interventions as “intolerable, unbearable, disgusting and dangerous.”
He said that, “he would head to Allah if the president did not honor his calls,” warning Assad of “an inevitable divine punishment, because things are heading towards a dangerous turn.”
A few days ago, and in a rare appearance, Makhlouf posted a video on his Facebook account, denying accusations of tax evasion, and said that “the government is asking him to pay $100 million in back taxes for his telecommunications company.”
Makhlouf said that his company shares the revenue and the profits with the state equally after paying the taxes, noting that “all the documents will appear at the appropriate time.”
Makhlouf is considered one of the most influential businessmen in Syria during the pre-war years, and he was accused of being one of the biggest monopolists of many projects and economic sectors, and one of the exploiters of his relationship with the ruling family to conduct his business and achieve huge amounts of wealth.