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Jeffrey Epstein tried to buy luxury mansion in Morocco the day before his arrest

2026-02-27 07:50:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

American financier Jeffrey Epstein attempted to buy a multimillion-dollar mansion in Morocco just one day before his arrest in July 2019, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice.

According to the filings, on July 5, 2019, Epstein signed a bank transfer for $14.95 million as part of a deal to buy the offshore company that owned the luxury property “Bin Ennakhil,” located in the elite Palmeraie neighborhood of Marrakech, for 18 million euros. The following day, he was arrested in New York on sex trafficking charges.

Three days after the arrest, his accountant, Richard Kahn, canceled the bank transfer and the purchase was not finalized.

Negotiations that lasted years

Documents show that Epstein's interest in the property dates back to 2011. The palace, described as an architectural masterpiece built by some 1,300 artisans with ornate carvings and mosaics, was owned by German businessman Gunter Kiss.

Initially, Epstein considered the price of 55 million euros exaggerated and made a much lower offer, which was rejected. Negotiations continued for years with the mediation of his partner Karyna Shuliak and the agency Kensington Luxury Properties.

At one stage of the discussions, it was proposed that the property be registered in Morocco at a lower value, while the remaining amount would be transferred through shares in the offshore company that owned the property. The agency denied any legal wrongdoing, stating that the transaction did not violate tax regulations.

Speculation about possible motives

Morocco does not have an extradition treaty with the US, which has prompted speculation in local media that the purchase could be aimed at creating a potential haven for Epstein in the event of new charges being brought.

However, a former associate of his has stated that the transaction shows that Epstein “had no idea” of the impending arrest. According to him, if he were to seek asylum, he would aim for a place where he could live “like a king.”

Early ties with Morocco

Epstein's ties to Morocco date back to the early 2000s. In 2002 he attended the wedding of King Mohammed VI, invited by former US President Bill Clinton.

After his 2008 conviction for sexual solicitation of minors and his release in 2010, his visits to Morocco increased. The files show that he sought help finding property in Marrakesh and regularly visited the Palmeraie area, known for its wealthy international community.

The published documents contain no evidence that Epstein officially considered Morocco as a haven to evade US authorities./ CNA