Did Arafat embezzle?

Paris

French prosecutors are investigating the wife of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat over allegations of money laundering. Suha Arafat, who lives in Paris with her daughter, has come under scrutiny because of her lavish lifestyle. During a wide-ranging investigation into the possible misuse of Palestinian Authority funds, police discovered that $11 million had been transferred to her bank account from a Swiss bank. Mrs. Arafat said the money was legitimate. “What’s strange in the fact that a husband should send money to his wife abroad?” she asked. The Palestinian Authority has received some $5.5 billion in foreign aid, mostly from the European Union, since Yasser Arafat returned to Gaza 10 years ago. An International Monetary Fund audit found that close to $1 billion could not be accounted for.

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