hassoun

By Lysandra Ohrstrom
Daily Star staff
Thursday, October 12, 2006



BEIRUT: A self-proclaimed billionaire of Lebanese origin pledged Wednesday to invest $15 billion in various economic and social reconstruction initiatives to "make Lebanon like it was between 1967-72." Elie Youssef Najem, 45, was unable to return to Lebanon for the occasion, but a four-person delegation that included the father of his 19-year-old wife read statements on his behalf.

The Malaysian-based, Batroun-born businessman also addressed reporters by speaker phone from Kuala Lumpur.

Najem - who claims to own a 50-percent stake in Saudi Aramco - said he will donate $10 million to the Lebanese Red Cross and $2 million to the Batroun Red Cross; finance the construction of a $20 million orphanage and a home for the elderly; bring 160 million barrels of crude oil to the market; give 16 fighter jets to the Lebanese Air Force; develop a beach resort in Jounieh; and turn Lebanon into the "gateway for the export of Malaysian palm oil."

He also promised to set up at least three branches of what he described as his bank, Magobio Investments, which caters to "all lovers of money" according to Najem's personal Web site, www.lordelieyoussefnajem.com. The Daily Star could find no record of Magobio, or any of the other diverse holdings that Najem claims to own.

"I'm sad not to be able to kiss the ground of my country, but here I am to help you and fight with you against anyone who wants to destroy you," Najem's personal assistant read from a hand-written letter he had addressed to "Lebanon."

"No one will prevent you from making money. I made it, but I don't want it. I'm going to give it all to Lebanon so your children have everything," Najem told reporters at the Beirut Press Association while one of his assistants held his mobile speaker to the microphone. He said work would begin as soon as Byblos Bank accepts his initial $4 billion deposit, after which he will establish an office to monitor transactions. His father-in-law will have power of attorney.

None of the would-be recipients or government agencies agreed to comment on the donation when contacted by The Daily Star, including Byblos Bank and the prime minister's office. Byblos Bank issued a statement in Lebanese daily Al-Anwar Tuesday, denying any transactions with Najem were in the works.

Najem said illness prevented him from attending the news conference - according to personal statements posted on his Web site, he suffers from an unspecified type of cancer and diabetes which restrict his mobility.

"I am a Lebanese bird, but twice before when I came to Lebanon [the government] embezzled $850 million from me," he cited as the the reason for not donating directly to the state.

According to numerous reports in the Malaysian English language daily, The Star, Najem was convicted of check forgery in Lebanon, and is being investigated by Interpol for other shady financial dealings.

Najem's legal troubles began in 1993 in Winnipeg, Canada - though he claims citizenship, the Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur denied this - where he was arrested for sexually harassing an employee at the "Bright and Early" phone-sex chat line he operated.

At least five businessmen have filed suits against Najem with the Malaysian police over the past year, after he made a similar pledge to build a $266 million children's cancer center in 2005.

In response to allegations, he was arrested and his passport was confiscated, though he is now out on bail. Najem has posted a request for donations on his Web site, to help him fight the newspapers and police, whom he accuses of trying "to kill, destroy and starve me."

Beirut!

haha, I love this guy! Im not too sure about his offer though... I hope its true we need people like him!

__________________

hassoun

yes,sure we need.well,let's hope this is true.

Ramazzotti

Lebanese Tycoon who Promised Lebanon Hefty Donations Apparently Phony

Elie Youssef Najem, a self-styled Lebanese business billionaire who has promised a hefty donation to help Lebanon recover from the recent Israeli war, was apparently nothing but a phony, according to the Malaysian media.
The announcement of his $15 billion donation plan, including alleged investments in various Lebanese sectors, was read Wednesday on his behalf by a four-person delegation, including his Malaysian father-in-law.

According to numerous reports in the Malaysian media posted on various Malaysian Web sites, including the Mata Press Service, Najem was convicted of check forgery in Lebanon, and is being investigated by Interpol for other shady financial dealings.

Mata Press Service has also quoted The New Straits Times as reporting that Interpol had confirmed Najem, 45, was convicted of check forgery in Lebanon last year and was sentenced to a year's jail.

The New Straits Times has said he left the country while the appeal was pending and entered Malaysia June 2005, adding that soon after his arrival, Najem married 19-year-old Malaysian Farinnie Farid.

Mata Press Service said in an article titled: "Nutty 'billionaire' leaves trail of debt" dated Feb. 9, 2006 that Najem's legal troubles began in 1993 in Winnipeg, Canada, where he was arrested for sexually harassing an employee at the "Bright and Early" phone-sex chat line he operated.

Though he claims citizenship, the Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has denied this, said the Service on its website.

It said that when Najem claimed to be a lord and a prince, the Lebanese government said they didn't know of any such royalty and that he had been convicted of check forgery in Lebanon.

It also said that Cyprus authorities stated that Dr. Najem, who claims to be from a family of doctors, could assist them in several cases of fraud, theft and cheating.

The Service said that Malaysia immigration officers have found irregularities involving his travel documents.

It said that Najem walks with the aid of crutches, surrounds himself with bodyguards and boasts without batting an eyelid that he has controlling interests in banking, construction, petroleum, telecommunications, software and palm oil industries in Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, Qatar and Malaysia worth over $40 billion.

"There's one problem though," Mata Press Service said. "Mr. Big cannot back up his big claims, big donations, and big money."

"Welcome to the topsy-turvy world of Dr. Elie Youssef Najem," it added.

The Service said that Najem had at the time slammed what he called accusations made against him.

"All the allegations against me are trumped up and untrue," the Service quoted Najem as telling the Malaysian media after he was released on bail recently.

At least five businessmen have filed suits against Najem with the Malaysian police over the past year, according Mata Press Service, after he made a pledge to build a $266 million children's cancer center in 2005.

It said that in response to allegations, he was arrested and his passport was confiscated, but said he later got out on bail. According to the Service, Najem has posted a request for donations on his Web site , to help him fight the newspapers and police, whom he accuses of trying "to kill, destroy and starve me."

Najem, who is in Malaysia, has told reporters by speaker phone during Wednesday's press conference at the Press Syndicate in Beirut that he will soon visit Lebanon.

"When I come to Lebanon I will have with me two warplanes with a cedar tree hoisted on each one," Najem announced. He said that his Lebanon trip was awaiting a green light from Defence Minister Elias Murr, President Emile Lahoud and Premier Fouad Saniora.

hassoun

yes lol i mean log on to his website and see his pics