GENEVA – Israeli diamond prosecutor Beny Steinmetz has been accused of telling “high stories” Tuesday at his trial in Geneva, where he is accused of corruption linked to mining contracts in Guinea.
Steinmetz again wanted to be a consultant rather than the man at the top of the company making all the decisions and being aware of all the financial details.
The French-Israeli businessman, 64, had claimed that he had “never in my life” been asked to pay money to Mamadie Toure, who prosecutors say this is the fourth wife of former Guinean president Lansana Conte, and a key figure in the case.
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Prosecutor Yves Bertossa accused him of “telling lofty stories.”
“You are a simple councilor who meets hundreds of ministers? In every company, it ‘s usually the big boss who does that! “He said.
Prosecutor Yves Bertossa arrives at Geneva courthouse for trial of French-Israeli diamond lawsuit Beny Steinmetz over alleged corruption linked to mining contracts in Guinea on January 11, 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP)
Steinmetz is accused of setting up a complex financial network, including a system of frontline companies, to pay bribes – partly through Swiss accounts – in order to acquire Beny Steinmetz Group Resources ( BSGR) mining licenses in the Simandou region of southeastern Guinea.
The area is considered to have the largest iron ore deposits in the world.
Toure has admitted receiving payments and has defended his status in the United States as a state witness.
She plans to testify Wednesday as a witness but is skeptical she appeared at the Geneva Criminal Court.
“She told a lot of lies,” Steinmetz said, “and I don’t know about the payments she received. I was just a counselor. ”
“Everyone who mentions my name is associated with Mrs. Toure says false things. I have nothing to do with Mamadie Toure. “
The role of an ‘adviser’
Steinmetz said he never met Toure.
“I met Lansana Conte in March 2008, under a tree in front of his detached palace,” he said.
“After this meeting, someone told me that Mamadie Toure may have been one of the women in attendance.”
Steinmetz’s lawyers on Monday called for Toure’s evidence to be withdrawn, arguing that her status in the United States was not valid in Switzerland, but his move was overturned.
Mamadie Toure (screenshot 2006)
Steinmetz was questioned about Pentler, a company owned by a BSGR subsidiary in Geneva.
The messenger reiterated that he was only a “consultant” within BSGR and was not involved in the financial information.
“I’m not BSGR, I’m not Pentler,” he said.
“I don’t make decisions; that’s BSGR, ”he said. “Everyone knew I wasn’t the boss.”
Costs of bribery
Steinmetz is accused of “bribery of foreign public officials and falsification of titles in the context of issuing mining licenses” in Guinea.
He was living in Geneva at the time of the prosecutions.
Geneva’s accusers accuse him, and two others, of “promising in 2005, then, to pay bribes, or to have been paid, to Toure, with a view to granting BSGR mining rights.
Prosecutors allege that about $ 10 million was paid in bribes, partly through Swiss bank accounts.
Conte’s military dictatorship had ordered in 2008 global mining giant Rio Tinto to waive two discounts to BSGR for around $ 170 million.
Beny Steinmetz seen at Rishon Lezion Court of Justice, 14 August 2017. (Flash90)
Steinmetz said Tuesday that Guinea chose BSGR because Rio Tinto showed little willingness to invest in iron ore investments.
Prosecutors allege that a memorandum of understanding was discussed in 2006 between Guinea and BSGR, but Steinmetz stated that he had experience only “a few years later.”
In 2013, the first democratically elected President of Guinea reviewed licenses granted under Conte and subsequently withdrew approval from the former VBG consortium. created by BSGR and Vale.
Steinmetz estimated his personal fortune to be between $ 50 million and $ 80 million.
The case continues Wednesday.