Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Hamas Victims Sue Alavi Foundation

MANHATTAN (CN) - In two federal lawsuits, nine people demand a total of $59.5 million from the Alavi Foundation, to satisfy judgments against Iran for a Sept. 4, 1997 Hamas suicide bombing in a Jerusalem mall. Federal prosecutors seized the Foundation's office building at 650 Fifth Ave. late last year, alleging Alavi laundered money for Iran.

Plaintiffs in both cases are represented by Robert Tolchin with Jaroslawicz & Jaros.

Here is Courthouse News' Dec. 18, 2008 story on the seizure of the building at 650 Fifth Ave.

Feds Seize 5th Avenue Office Building

MANHATTAN, Dec. 18, 2008 (CN) - The federal government has seized a 36-story office building at 650 5th Ave., alleging its owners engaged in prohibited economic transactions with Iran, and ran the place under instructions from an Iranian bank.

The government seized the building under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Iranian Transaction Regulations, according to the federal complaint.

The building owner, 650 Fifth Avenue Co., is a partnership between the Alavi Foundation and Bank Melli Iran. Bank Melli owns 40% of the Fifth Avenue Co. through two shell companies, Assa Corp. and Assa Co. Ltd., prosecutors say.

Defendant Assa Corp. is accused of "providing numerous services to Bank Melli in contravention of the ITRs including transferring rental income generated from the Fifth Avenue Company to Bank Melli, following Bank Melli's instructions with regard to Assa Corp.'s affairs, reporting back to Bank Melli on Assa Corp.'s financial situation and business dealings, and managing the affairs of Assa Corp. for the benefit of Bank Melli," according to the complaint.

The Shah of Iran built the building in the 1970s through The Pahlavi Foundation "to pursue Iran's charitable interests in the United States," the complaint states. Bank Melli loaned the Foundation $42 million to build the building. After the revolution of 1979, the Pahlavi Foundation was renamed the Mostazafan Foundation of New York, then renamed again as the Alavi Foundation of New York. A "substantial portion" of Alavi's income comes from rents on the building.

Prosecutors also seized several bank accounts, alleging money laundering and tax dodges.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...