France to try Syrian President Assad’s uncle on graft charges

PARIS — The uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to stand trial in France on charges of building up a big property empire in the country using funds from Syrian state coffers, legal sources said Wednesday.

An investigating magistrate ordered Rifaat al-Assad to stand trial for organized money laundering in building the 90 million euro ($102 million) property portfolio in France, according to the order for the trial seen by AFP. Its date has yet to be set. /kga