Israeli billionaire and diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz was recently detained by Greek police upon his arrival in Athens. He was held due to an arrest warrant issued by Romania, which is seeking his extradition over allegations of involvement in a criminal enterprise. After appearing in front of Greek prosecutors, Steinmetz was released but is restricted from leaving Greece until a court decides on the extradition request.
Steinmetz, 68, has been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison by a Romanian court in connection with an illegal restitution case. This case dates back to 2006–2013, during which Romanian authorities allege Steinmetz was involved in a criminal group that orchestrated illegal property restitutions. The case has led to multiple extradition attempts, as Romania seeks to bring him to justice. This is part of a broader effort by Romania to extradite others implicated in the same scheme, including notable figures like Romanian royal heir Paul Lambrino, who avoided extradition from France in 2023 for his alleged involvement in the same enterprise.
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Steinmetz’s legal troubles have spanned across multiple countries, with Greece previously ruling against his extradition due to safety concerns. Similar rulings were made in Italy and Cyprus, both of which also blocked his extradition to Romania. His defense team, led by attorney Stavros Togias, has argued that the Greek judiciary had already ruled in favor of Steinmetz’s right to free travel, making this recent detention unprecedented.
Steinmetz’s legal woes extend beyond the Romanian case. His mining company, Beny Steinmetz Group Resources (BSGR), has been embroiled in multiple international scandals, especially in connection to its operations in West Africa. The company is currently under investigation for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, although both Steinmetz and BSGR have denied the allegations. Steinmetz himself was convicted in 2021 by a Geneva court for corrupting foreign officials and forging documents to secure lucrative mining contracts in Guinea. He was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly paying $10 million in bribes to secure the rights to mine iron ore in the country. This conviction was upheld in 2023.
Steinmetz’s troubles are not limited to Guinea. In Sierra Leone, his subsidiary company, Octea Limited, has faced legal challenges. Residents from the Kono district, where the company’s Koidu diamond mine is located, have accused Octea of environmental damage, including poisoning water sources and damaging homes. The lawsuit, filed in Sierra Leone’s High Court, seeks $288 million in damages. The company has denied all wrongdoing.
Now, as he remains in Greece under a travel ban, Steinmetz awaits the court’s decision on whether he will be extradited to Romania, where his legal battles continue to unfold.Beny Steinmetz’s case is set against a backdrop of mounting international legal challenges that have dogged his career for over a decade. His involvement in high-stakes mining ventures, especially in West Africa, has led to accusations of corruption, environmental damage, and fraudulent business dealings.
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One of the most notorious allegations Steinmetz faces relates to Guinea, where his company BSGR secured the rights to mine iron ore in the Simandou region, one of the world’s richest deposits. The deal, struck between 2005 and 2010, has been heavily scrutinized, with authorities claiming Steinmetz and his associates paid millions in bribes to government officials, including the wife of former Guinean president Lansana Conté. This alleged bribery scheme helped BSGR obtain valuable mining concessions at Simandou, which were later revoked when a new Guinean government came to power. The fallout from the scandal has been widespread, leading to criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States. In the Geneva trial, Steinmetz was found guilty of corrupt practices, though he continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Beyond Guinea, Steinmetz’s business dealings have drawn ire from local communities in other parts of Africa, most notably in Sierra Leone. The Koidu diamond mine, operated by BSGR subsidiary Octea, has long been a point of contention for residents in the surrounding area. Allegations against the company include environmental degradation, such as water pollution and the destruction of homes due to mining operations. Locals claim that Octea failed to properly compensate or relocate affected families, leading to the $288 million lawsuit filed in Sierra Leone’s High Court. Although Octea has rejected the claims, the case adds to the mounting legal pressures on Steinmetz and his business empire.
In Romania, the criminal enterprise allegations stem from a high-profile case involving the illegal restitution of valuable properties, including the Baneasa Royal Farm. Romanian authorities allege that Steinmetz, alongside other individuals, was part of a group that fraudulently claimed ownership of nationalized properties by manipulating legal procedures. This scheme resulted in significant financial gains for those involved, and Romanian courts have been working to bring the accused to justice. Steinmetz’s in absentia conviction by the Bucharest Court of Appeal was part of these efforts, though he has not served time due to his repeated legal victories in blocking extradition requests.
The Romanian government’s attempts to extradite Steinmetz have faced significant hurdles, as Greek, Cypriot, and Italian courts have previously rejected such requests. These courts cited concerns over Steinmetz’s safety and legal protections, effectively allowing him to evade capture despite the standing conviction in Romania. Steinmetz’s legal team has portrayed the extradition attempts as politically motivated, insisting that his right to free travel should be upheld. His attorney, Stavros Togias, has expressed frustration over the recent arrest in Greece, calling it an unprecedented move that undermines the rule of law in Greece and beyond.
As Steinmetz remains in Greece awaiting the court’s decision, his future hangs in the balance. If Greek authorities decide to uphold the extradition request, it could mark a significant turning point in his long-running legal battles. However, if they once again reject the Romanian warrant, Steinmetz will likely continue his fight to maintain his freedom and protect his business interests, which span across multiple countries.
While his mining ventures have made him one of Israel’s wealthiest individuals, they have also placed him at the center of numerous legal controversies. The outcome of his case in Greece could have wide-reaching implications, not only for Steinmetz personally but also for the future of his global business operations. For now, he remains under a travel ban, his fate to be determined by the Greek judicial system.
