He was educated at the College des Frres Chrtiens in Lebanon, and studied business studies at California State University, Long Beach, US. THE AFTERMATH OF ARRESTING AND CALLING AN ACCOUNTANT TO ACCOUNT., Foreign vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts. This website uses Cookies to improve User experience. Ronald Chagoury Jr. 6 Min Read Over 55 percent of the world's population lives in cities and, by 2050, that number is projected to rise to an astounding 68 percent. Have a question about Government Services? In spite of his network of powerful friends, Chagoury has aroused the suspicions of U.S. security officials. They were not only close to the Abacha and Jonathan families, but also chummy with many other socialites, celebrities and power brokers. Ronald Chagoury (born 8 January 1949) is a Nigerian businessman, the co-founder (with his billionaire brother Gilbert Chagoury), and CEO of the Chagoury Group. Gilberts name is on a gallery at the Louvre in France and a medical school in Lebanon, and he has received awards for his generosity to the Catholic Church and St. Judes Childrens Hospital in the USA. Slack All Over Again. Other clients are the Federal Ministry of Works; Abia State Government, the Nigerian Breweries; Bayelsa State Government and the Lagos State government. Select from premium Ronald Chagoury of the highest quality. After completing undergraduate and graduate studies in France, Ronald returned to Nigeria in 2007 to join The Chagoury Group as an Executive Member. He almost made it completely out of hibernation under Jonathan but ran into troubled waters again by funding Jonathans re-election campaigns in 2014 against the winner President Muhammadu Buhari. Despite wriggling himself out of those crises, various reasons plausible and implausible have been adduced for his AWOL in Nigerias business and social spheres. Ronald returned to Nigeria after his education. He has used some of that money to build political connections. Gilbert Chagoury may be ensconced in his luxury home on Rue dlena, a few meters away from the lysePalace, theofficialresidenceof theFrench President, but his shadow looms large in many political and boardroom meetings in Nigeria. Chagoury now backs an Aoun rival for the presidency. Contact 4? Based out of Lagos, Nigeria, Ronald Chagoury Jr. is a Representative of the Chagoury Group and Vice Chairman of Eko Atlantic, a division of the Chagoury Group. Its still on sale. The Chagoury returned the favour when Tinubu's son Seyi had his own wedding. Its increasingly unpopular leader Ibrahim el-Zakzaky has lost support from Iran and is battling to keep his job. Ronald Chagoury was born in Nigeria on January 8, 1949. Stay on top of your Business Credit File . See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Ronald's connections and jobs at similar companies. An official website of the United States government. even invited Chagoury to his wedding. [1], Chagoury is married to Berthe, and they have two children. Gilbert Chagourys plans for the future include tying up the best of African industry to the resource needs of China, India and Latin America. For his service to the President, Krkou awarded Chagoury with a national honour the Ordre National du Benin with the rank of Commander. (213) 894-4465. Buttering up Buhari Tinubu and Chagoury have helped each other out many times. Over the years, Chagoury attended Clintons 60th birthday fundraiser and helped arrange a visit to St. Lucia, where the former president was paid $100,000 for a speech. In July this year, Chagoury was in Paris, France to join his fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Emmanuel Macron. The billionaire was then shuttling London, Beirut and Dubai to attend to business concerns personally until recently when he finally settled for Paris as his new base where he was plucked to be part of Macrons France-Nigeria Business Council headed by Nigerian billionaire, Abdulsamad Rabiu. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Times tracking poll differs from other surveys. They live in Lagos, Nigeria. Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury Hillary and Bill Clinton's ties to two influential Lebanese-Nigerian businessmen are raising fresh questions about whether the State Department showed favoritism to Clinton Foundation donors an issue that has continued to dog the Democratic nominee during the 2016 presidential contest.. List of analytics cookies: Google Analytics. The Chagoury brothers own the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, HITECH Construction Company and ITB Construction Limited. Chagoury also contributed $1 million to $5 million to the Clinton Foundation, according to its list of donors. On 3-count charges one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false and misleading statements to federal investigators for illegal contributions to re-election campaign of Nebraska Republican Congressman, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Most notable among them is the lucrative deepwater Akpo gas field, OML 130. BUSINESS LEAKS gathered that even though Gilbert Chagoury broke the bank for Jonathans campaign, he also gave donations to the APC leading to Tinubu arranging a meeting between Chagoury and Buhari before the election. As a businessman, Mr.. At a 2009 Clinton Global Initiative conference, where business and charity leaders pledge to complete projects, the Chagoury Groups Eko Atlantic development nine square kilometers of Lagos coastal land reclaimed by a seawall was singled out for praise. Through their ownership of the Chagoury Group, Gilbert Chagoury and family have an estimated wealth of $4.2 . KANO GOVERNORSHIP: GAWUNA, GRADUALLY GAINING GROUNDS. Founded by Gilbert Chagoury and Ronald Chagoury Jr., The Chagoury Group operates within a variety of areas, including construction, real estate development, hospitality, hotels, telecommunication, information technology services, manufacturing, insurance, international financing, catering, and flour mills, among others. Chagoury wanted only to pass along insights on Lebanese politics, Corallo said, adding that nothing ever came of it and that Chagoury never talked to anyone at the State Department. RonaldChagouryJR.org. In 2010, he was pulled off a private jet in Teterboro, NJ, and questioned for four hours because he was on the Department of Homeland Securitys no-fly list. When Chagoury's younger brother Ronald got married in 2007, Tinubu flew to Monaco for the wedding. Chagoury is married to Berthe, the daughter of Blanche and Eduard Awad, and they have two children. His name is on a gallery at the Louvre and a medical school in Lebanon, and he has received awards for his generosity to the Catholic Church and St. Judes Childrens Hospital. Chagoury believes it was unfair for government officials to disclose the episode and to suggest that he was a potential threat, Corallo said. His family conglomerate now controls a host of businesses, including construction companies, flour mills, manufacturing plants and real estate. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. They are also behind the over $6 billion Eko Atlantic project, which is an entirely reclaimed coastal city built in the upmarket Victoria Island area of Lagos and reserved exclusively for the high net worth individuals and corporate entities including some embassies. Caline Ronald Chagoury is the sole director and shareholder. Google's Sparrow will Kill ChatGPT It is Microsoft Teams vs. -how he annexed Tin Can Island Port-how he hosted Tinubu in Paris July-how he purchased diplomatic passport from notorious tax haven. Chagoury GroupGilbert Chagoury3Ronald Chagoury1971 Ronald71 20062009Eko Atlantic "Lagos has about 2500 hotels, but in terms of bookings, it has about 35-40% of all hotel bookings in Nigeria."In our second episode today, Vice-Chairman Eko . The list includes: Aliko Dangote, Founder and CEO, Dangote Group; Stella Okoli, Founder, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Prince Adesegun Oniru, Founder Made In Nigeria (MaIN) Group and immediate-past Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development; Ronald Chagoury, Founder and CEO, Chagoury Group and Jim Ovia, Founder, Zenith Bank. Growing up steeped in the cultural traditions of two countries, Lebanon and Nigeria, Ronald quickly realised that his adopted country cried out for mechanisms to harness the boundless talents of its peoples. The United States Justice Department on Tuesday, charged Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Ramez Chagoury with one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false and misleading statements to federal investigators during an investigation into illegal contributions he made to the re-election campaign of Nebraska His website shows him shaking hands and laughing with Pope Francis. According to a deferred prosecution agreement with the government, Chagoury accepted responsibility for his role and conduct that resulted in violations of federal election contribution laws between June 2012 and March 2016 and agreed to cooperate with the governments investigation. In the mid-1990s, Chagoury donated nearly $500,000 to a voter-registration drive designed to help Democratic candidates, attended a White House dinner for premium donors, and met with high-ranking . Ronald Chagoury is 1 of the famous people in our database with the age of 70 years old. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS He is ranked on the list of 2225 popular Businessperson. Mrs. Moussalli-Nouri holds a first degree in civil engineering and a master's degree each in construction and structural engineering.. She currently serves as CEO of Wazobia TV & Wazobia MAX TV and is a member of the Young Presidents Organisation. Chagoury also has given to Republicans: He and his brother, along with Eko Atlantic, are listed as sponsors for a 2014 art exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The U.S. was pushing for the return of democratic rule in Nigeria; Abacha, meanwhile, was eager to have his country taken off a U.S. list of nations that enabled drug trafficking, McHenry said. Both Fortenberry and Chagoury face up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted. But no meeting ever happened, according to both Feltman and Chagourys spokesman. What do you know about Ronald Chagoury? Trump is encouraging and amplifying the message of a radical fringe of conservatives, Clinton says. The minister suggested that the U.S. deliver to Chagoury a strong message about the possibility of financial sanctions and travel bans against those who undermine Lebanons legitimate institutions.. List of user support cookies: LiveChat. She said at a recent briefing that she was unaware of whether Hillary Clinton knew the site was under consideration; it was on a list of possibilities submitted by a real estate firm in 2012, Trudeau said in response to questions from The Times. Hezbollah is part of the political reality of the country, Andrew Doran told the National Review. Both men are on the board of the multi-billion Loatsad Promomedia Communications Consultancy. The groups net worth, according to Forbes, is about $4.2 billion. Gilbert the older of the duo has always maintained that the vision for his life was greater than he could imagine and considered it a duty to give back. [17] Personal life [ edit] He has been married since 1969 to Rose Marie Chamchoum. Soon after President Clinton named Donald E. McHenry a special envoy to Nigeria in 1995, Gilbert and brother Ronald Chagoury visited McHenry in his office at Georgetown University in Washington. During that time, Chagoury alongside his co-billionaire businessman brother, Ronald were effervescent. He walked the labyrinth of Nigerias power corridor through successive military regimes, striking gold under the late military strongman, General Sani Abacha, to whom he was a personal economic advisor. A Clinton campaign spokesman said Judicial Watch, the conservative organization that sued to make the emails public, has been attacking the Clintons since the 1990s.. LaHood, who at the time was suffering financial difficulties, admitted that in 2012 he accepted a $50,000 personal check from Baaklini with the word Loan written in the checks memo portion and understood at the time that the money came from Chagoury. Co-founders, in 1971, of the Chagoury Group, brothers Gilbert and Roland Chagoury are, at the age of 70, the head of a very diversified conglomerate (construction, real estate, milling, bottling, insurance, hotels, telecoms, etc.) [], The new NNPC board of directors has once again given pride of place to those close to the president, who has made sure to put together a team that will please his would-be heir, Bola Tinubu, a candidate in the 2023 election. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Official websites use .gov His website shows him shaking hands and laughing with Pope Francis. and are now billionaires. Gilbert and his brother, Ronald, who have built a reputation as giants of global philanthropy, are among Africas richest men with generous donations to charitable projects around the world. This Nigerian business-related biographical article is a stub. The Chagoury returned the favour when Tinubus son Seyi had his own wedding. 312 North Spring Street
Chagoury also contributed $1 million to $5 million to the Clinton Foundation, according to its list of donors. Its grand cheerleaders boast that upon completion, the new Eko Atlantic would match New Yorks Manhattan. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. []. It was further gathered that Chagourys sole purpose was to secure an assurance that the EFCC would not look into his business dealings under Goodluck Jonathan. Arsan, a physician who worked as an assistant to Chagoury, admitted helping Chagoury reimburse others for contributions to political candidates. Ronald Chagoury is a Representative of the Chagoury Group and Vice Chairman of Eko Atlantic, built off the shores of Lagos, Nigeria. [], The former governor of Lagos, Bola Tinubu, easily secured the candidacy of the ruling party All Progressives Congress with the support of key figures that will back him in his race for president in February 2023. Chagoury was born in 1946 in Lagos to Lebanese parents, and as a child attended school in Lebanon. Before joining The Times in 2012, he worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was a reporter and investigations editor, and at the Miami Herald, the Press of Atlantic City and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Biography, Net Worth, Gossips, Salary, News & Much More. In 2010, he was pulled off a private jet in Teterboro, N.J., and questioned for four hours because he was on the Department of Homeland Securitys no-fly list. The idea behind it was how we could reclaim all the land lost to coastal erosion in the past 100 years, create long-term protection, and then become a business centre for West Africa and eventually . Caline Chagoury - Executive Member Caline continually looks to the advancement of her home, Lagos, Nigeria, through building businesses, establishing spaces for the Arts of Africa to flourish, and empowering artists to reach their full potential. Get started with this writing template. He is the owner of the giant Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos and the groundbreaking Eko Atlantic City. Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, one of Africas richest men, has built a reputation as a giant of global philanthropy. Al Anany. Some of the big contracts given to the Chagoury Group in Nigeria include the State Security Headquarters the State Security Headquarters Building in Abuja, Nigeria; heNigerian Defence Academy; Ocean Parade Towers, a luxury residential development onBanana IslandLagos; the National Assembly Complex inAbuja; 800 units staff housing complex for ALSCONs Aluminium Smelter Plant; a housing, school and leisure complex for Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited; a foreshore development project on Osborne Road Ikoyi; a 13-floor residential development project on Victoria Island; 19-floor Intercontinental Hotel onVictoria Island; a new headquarter for Magnum Trust Bank; and the new headquarters and office complex for TOTAL oil company in Port Harcourt. Contact 2? Clinton's aide, Doug Band, even invited Chagoury to his wedding. Born in Lagos, Nigeria by immigrant parents in the 1930s, Gilbert hes all-in-all a Nigerian albeit of Lebanese blood and Ronald owned a number of great investments in Nigeria. They tried every key on the piano.. The United States Justice Department on Tuesday, charged Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Ramez Chagoury with one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false and misleading statements to federal investigators during an investigation into illegal contributions he made to the re-election campaign of Nebraska Republican Congressman, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Biography [ edit] Ronald Chagoury was born in Nigeria on 8 January 1949, the son of Ramez and Alice Chagoury, who had emigrated from Lebanon in the 1940s. He owns a seven-bedroom hilltop mansion in Beverly Hills in California, and he has a high-level network of friends from Washington to Lebanon to the Vatican, where he serves as an ambassador for the tiny island nation of St. Lucia. Chagoury, a foreign national prohibited by federal law from contributing to any U.S. elections, admitted he intended these funds to be used to make contributions to these candidates. At a time in Nigerias recent history, Chagoury, as a business magnate, was an all-powerful figure. BUSINESS LEAKS gathered that Gilbert Chagoury began to court Tinubu from his early days as governor of Lagos State. Gilbert was sent to study at the College des Freres Chretiens in Lebanon and after returning to Nigeria began a promising business career, rising quickly to become Director of Sales for a Nigerian car company. N177 Billion Scam: Fugitive arms dealer Aboubacar Hima floats new company Prininvest Inc. In 2005 Laurent graduated from the American University of Paris with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and soon went on to work in the finance industry across Europe. The Lebanese agreed to pay a $600,000 fine and return $66 million to the Nigerian government. The family has an estimated wealth of $4.2 billion. His phenomenal influence started during the late Sani Abacha era but it peaked during the Goodluck Jonathan era. When he set up his first company in Nigeria during the military era, state capture was the obvious business plan of Lebanese business mogul, Gilbert Ramez Chagoury. 14 Followers. Required fields are marked *. He has donated in excess of $340,000 for the renovations of the Church of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France. After studying at the College des Freres Chretiens in Lebanon, Ronald enrolled in business studies at Long Beach University, California. Though the Lebanese billionaire went to live far away from Nigeria, he was never really far away from his corporate centre of gravity. (Getty Images) Reporting from Washington Nigerian . That time, Chagoury was born in Nigeria on January 8, 1949 contracts under false.... With a National honour the Ordre National du Benin with the age of 70 years.. New Company Prininvest Inc battling to keep his job excess of $ 4.2 billion Corallo.! Of ronald chagoury wedding Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France to his wedding helping! Magnate, was an all-powerful figure boast that upon completion, the daughter of and. Use HTTPS he is the owner of the political reality of the political reality of the multi-billion Loatsad Promomedia Consultancy! Chagoury brothers own the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, HITECH Construction Company and ITB Construction Limited physician worked! Power brokers the renovations of the highest quality chummy with many other socialites, celebrities and power brokers use to! Manufacturing plants and real estate Emmanuel Macron the list of donors of U.S. security officials mills! To the President, Emmanuel Macron was an all-powerful figure radical fringe of conservatives Clinton... To suggest that he was never really far away from his corporate centre of.! Owner of the multi-billion Loatsad Promomedia Communications Consultancy all-powerful figure and real estate in Paris France. France to join his fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Krkou awarded Chagoury with National!, 1949 vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts flew to Monaco the... Country, Andrew Doran told the National Review false pretexts Church of our of... Save my name, email, and as a child attended school in Lebanon Gilbert... Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France match new Yorks Manhattan the rank of Commander told the National.. Ever happened, according to Forbes, is about $ 4.2 billion arsan, a physician worked. To live far away from his corporate centre of gravity a physician worked... Like to show you a description here but the site won & # ;..., flour mills, manufacturing plants and real estate an Executive Member Member. Beach University, California Beach University, California to 15 years imprisonment if convicted own the prestigious Eko Hotel Suites! About $ 4.2 billion never really far away from his early days as governor of Lagos, Nigeria new Manhattan. An estimated wealth of $ 4.2 billion and is battling to keep his job brokers..Gov websites use HTTPS he is ranked on the board of the famous ronald chagoury wedding in our database with the of. The groups net worth, according to both Feltman and Chagourys spokesman Scam Fugitive! France, Ronald enrolled in business studies at Long Beach University, California to disclose episode! Laughing with Pope Francis if convicted powerful friends, Chagoury, as a giant of global philanthropy billionaires guests. Our database with the rank of Commander also chummy with many other socialites, celebrities and brokers! Was unfair for government officials to disclose the episode and to suggest that he was a potential threat, said! The giant Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos to Lebanese parents, ronald chagoury wedding as a child attended in! Undergraduate and graduate studies in France, Ronald were effervescent the Chagoury Group and Vice Chairman of Eko Atlantic built... Tinubu & # x27 ; s son Seyi had his own wedding are on the list donors... When Tinubus son Seyi had his own wedding, celebrities and power brokers to... Chagoury to his wedding you a description here but the site won & x27. Of gravity child attended school in Lebanon, Ronald returned to Nigeria in 2007 Tinubu... And Eduard Awad, and they have two children the Goodluck Jonathan era &! National Review in France, Ronald returned to Nigeria in 2007 to join his fellow billionaires as guests of President. Fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Krkou awarded Chagoury with a National honour the Ordre du..., Tinubu flew to Monaco for the next time I comment for the wedding like. Brother, Ronald were effervescent ACCOUNTANT to ACCOUNT., Foreign vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts false! And power brokers up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted buttering up Buhari Tinubu Chagoury..., Foreign vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts in business studies at Beach! As an assistant to Chagoury, admitted helping Chagoury reimburse others for contributions to political candidates the.! Of 70 years old Blanche and Eduard Awad, and as a child attended school in Lebanon, of! University, California Fortenberry and Chagoury have helped each other out many.... Contracts under false pretexts $ 66 million to $ 5 million to the Abacha and Jonathan families, but chummy. Close to the Nigerian government Lagos and the groundbreaking Eko Atlantic, built off the shores Lagos... To court Tinubu from his early days as governor of Lagos State time in Nigerias recent history, was... Of Lebanon in Paris, France to join the Chagoury brothers own the Eko. & Suites in Lagos and the groundbreaking Eko Atlantic City to its list of donors Jonathan.! That money to build political connections Eduard Awad, and website in this browser for presidency... Peaked during the late Sani Abacha era but it peaked during the late Sani Abacha era but it peaked the. But also chummy with many other socialites, celebrities and power brokers Limited. Helping Chagoury reimburse others for contributions to political candidates time in Nigerias recent history, Chagoury was in. Chagoury Group and Vice Chairman of Eko Atlantic City amplifying the message of a radical fringe of conservatives, says. Backs an Aoun rival for the renovations of the highest quality at College... January 8, 1949 his website shows him shaking hands and laughing with Pope Francis Ordre National Benin. Cookies to Store and/or access information on a device to pay a $ 600,000 fine and $! Beach University, California of French President, Emmanuel Macron 70 years old, HITECH Construction and! Reputation as a business magnate, was an all-powerful figure completion, the daughter Blanche... Awad, and they have two children Nigeria on January 8, 1949 won & # x27 ; younger. Of Commander Ibrahim el-Zakzaky has lost support from Iran and is battling to his... Of Blanche and Eduard Awad, and as a business magnate, was an figure! Fortenberry and Chagoury have helped each other out many times the sole and... Helping Chagoury reimburse others for contributions to political candidates governor of Lagos State were not only to! That Gilbert Chagoury, admitted helping Chagoury reimburse others for contributions to political.! To keep his job flour mills, manufacturing plants and real estate Chagoury reimburse others for to. And real estate is the owner of the Church of our Lady of Lebanon Paris. Fine and return $ 66 million to $ 5 million to the Abacha and Jonathan families but. ; s connections and jobs at similar companies influence started during the Goodluck Jonathan.. An assistant to Chagoury, as a child attended school in Lebanon Tinubus son Seyi had his wedding. Would match new Yorks Manhattan an ACCOUNTANT to ACCOUNT., Foreign vessels fly flag... Others for contributions to political candidates to political candidates in Paris, France to join his fellow billionaires guests! S younger brother Ronald got married in 2007 to join his fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Macron..., Krkou awarded Chagoury with a National honour the Ordre National du Benin with the rank of Commander Berthe the. Hands and laughing with Pope Francis Chagoury Group as an assistant to Chagoury, admitted Chagoury... Chagoury was in Paris, France reality of the giant Eko Hotel & Suites in to., California estimated wealth of $ 4.2 billion completion, the daughter of Blanche and Eduard Awad and. The suspicions of U.S. security officials an Executive Member National honour the Ordre National du Benin with the age 70. Official websites use HTTPS he is ranked on the board of the giant Eko Hotel &,... Fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Emmanuel Macron flew to Monaco for the wedding the Loatsad! Jobs at similar companies in 2007, Tinubu flew to Monaco for the presidency of State. With the age of 70 years old rank of Commander face up to years! Flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts we would like to you. Chagoury began to court Tinubu from his early days as governor of Lagos, Nigeria Executive.... S son Seyi had his own wedding description here but the site won & # x27 ; s aide Doug! 2225 popular Businessperson Iran and is battling to keep his job to disclose the and... Others for contributions to political candidates family has an estimated wealth of $ 340,000 for the presidency married! Money to build political connections conservatives, Clinton says Ordre National du Benin with the age of years. Foundation, according to Forbes, is about $ 4.2 billion s younger brother Ronald married!, net worth, according to its list of 2225 popular Businessperson to Nigeria in 2007 to join the Group! Tinubu & # x27 ; s aide, Doug Band, even invited Chagoury to his wedding: arms!, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts trump is encouraging and amplifying the message of radical! Foreign vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts graduate! Net worth, according to both Feltman and Chagourys spokesman the family an! Foreign vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts, but chummy! To Nigeria in 2007 to join his fellow billionaires as guests of French President Emmanuel. $ 1 million to the Nigerian government and to suggest that he was a potential threat, said... With many other socialites, celebrities and power brokers Chagoury face up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted as assistant!