Newly released documents from the US Department of Justice reveal that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to purchase a multimillion-dollar palace in Morocco just one day before his arrest in July 2019.
The records show that Epstein signed a $14.95 million wire transfer on July 5, 2019, as part of an agreement to acquire the offshore company that owned Bin Ennakhil, a lavish estate in Marrakech’s exclusive Palmeraie district. The deal valued the property at €18 million. Epstein was arrested the following day upon his return to New York on sex trafficking charges.
Three days later, his longtime accountant, Richard Kahn, cancelled the wire transfer, and the transaction was never completed. According to the documents, the payment was Epstein’s final major financial move before his arrest.
Epstein had reportedly been interested in the property since 2011. Bin Ennakhil — meaning “between the palm trees” in Arabic — is described in promotional materials as an architectural masterpiece, constructed over three years by 1,300 craftsmen and adorned with intricate carvings and mosaics.
Negotiations with the seller, German businessman Gunter Kiss, were prolonged and at times contentious. Early offers from Epstein were reportedly rejected as too low. Over time, his partner, Karyna Shuliak, led inspections and negotiations, at one stage presenting herself as acting on behalf of billionaire investor Leon Black. Eventually, it became clear that Epstein himself was the prospective buyer, and discussions resumed.
Documents indicate that at one point, a “sale and tax strategy” was proposed involving the registration of the property at a lower declared value while transferring shares of the offshore company at a higher amount. Kensington Luxury Properties, which handled aspects of the transaction, denied any unethical conduct, stating the arrangement did not violate Moroccan tax regulations.
“This transaction did not violate any tax regulations,” Mr Leon told the BBC. “Mr Epstein wanted to pay registration fees in Morocco, even though he was under no obligation to do so… in order to own the property in his own name.”
Morocco does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, prompting speculation in local media that Epstein may have viewed the country as a potential refuge. However, the released files contain no direct evidence that he discussed Morocco as a sanctuary from US authorities.
A former associate, speaking anonymously, suggested the transaction indicated Epstein “had no clue” about his impending arrest, though acknowledged that Morocco could have represented a place where he could “live like a king.”
Epstein’s links to Morocco date back to the early 2000s. Virginia Giuffre, one of his most prominent accusers, wrote in her memoir that she was flown to Tangier by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to assess Moroccan-style interior designs for his private island.
In 2002, Epstein attended the wedding of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI alongside Maxwell, reportedly at the invitation of former US President Bill Clinton. After serving a jail sentence in 2008 for soliciting underage sex, his interest in Morocco appeared to intensify, with documents suggesting he sought assistance in finding property in Marrakech as early as 2010.
While the palace purchase ultimately fell through, the newly disclosed files shed fresh light on Epstein’s financial dealings and international connections in the days leading up to his arrest — and raise further questions about his global network and intentions.
Melissa Enoch
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