While reading an article about Alexis Muller Pellerin, described as a rising star in real estate, I also discovered his grandfather, Claude Muller, a retired property developer in Cannes. I managed to find the book published by Hélène Constanty in 2015 “Razzia sur la Riviera” (Raid on the French Riviera). When you mention the real estate industry on the Côte d’Azur, you immediately think of collusion with local elected officials, bribery, corruption, yachts and stories of suitcases full of banknotes. In this book, the description of this universe is worse than you can imagine!

There are several definitions for criminals. Criminals who blur the law in need of money, goods, etc., and criminals who blur the law for more and more profit. The richest sitting on their fortune, seeking by all means, lawful or not, to accumulate more and more. Petty crimes that result directly from the megalomaniac desires of men in their wild silk three-piece suits. The organized crime of gold from various businesses, sharing a common practice: tax evasion.

The case of Claude Muller ideally represents the profiles of the voracious shark that heats the meat. In fact, tax evasion and property fraud marked the professional career of this real estate star.

Commissions paid on accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

As a real estate developer and broker, Claude Muller prospered in the 1980s. He got along well with local public figures and maintained influential relationships in Cannes and Antibes. He was known for his imposing bearing, had the gift of gab, and maintained an exceptional network. Three useful qualities that allowed him to attract wealthy clients, especially from the Gulf. Claude Muller was a “pied-noir” returnee from Algeria, who was fluent in Arabic.

While conducting business with his wealthy clients, he took the opportunity to start a tax evasion scheme. This scheme was tried and tested but efficient. Claude Muller implemented a billing system for the benefit of the Arab princes he worked for, most of his clients, while he charged a fortune for his services. His fraud system was as follows: he worked with a Geneva lawyer, Baudouin Dunand, who founded personalized real estate companies (SCI) to receive money from the financial transactions of sold villas. These ICS have always been established in countries known to apply confidentiality policies regarding customer identity, such as Lichtenstein and Switzerland. The wealthy investors transferred the funds to the SCI founded by lawyer Baudouin Dunand, and once all the vendors and vendors who had worked on the construction site had been paid, Dunand transferred the remaining sums to a bank account of Claude Muller. So, the sums received by the property developer were enormous. Thanks to the SCI that served as a support structure to transfer the money from each real estate transaction, Muller accumulated a veritable fortune. As for the Geneva lawyer who assisted Claude Muller in these tax frauds, he is known to be the manager of several offshore companies, essential parts of a larger tax evasion scheme.

Imprisoned in Grasse for fraud

In addition to tax fraud, Claude Muller was also linked to other scams such as urban planning, liens and real estate fraud, being smart enough not to face the legal consequences. In 1982, he bought the sumptuous property called “Le Grand Jardin” on the island of Sainte-Marguerite. Extended over two hectares and made up of two 17th century mansions, it is the only private property on the island. By a very clever trick, the property was exempted from the French wealth tax; Claude Miller claimed that it had been purchased for professional purposes. Indeed, accused by the civil, criminal and administrative courts, he explained that he bought the property for his real estate broker business, with the intention of reselling it. And during the 25 years that he owned the property, the mansion was for sale, but at a price three times its real value. A clear message to potential buyers: “Go ahead, there’s nothing to see here.”

Claude Muller was also involved in various frauds and scams in Cannes and Antibes. The real estate developer did not always manage to escape justice.

Indeed, on December 8, 1992, he was indicted for alleged forgery and fraud. Once again with his accomplice Baudouin Dunand, he defrauded the Qatari head of government out of 13 million francs off the construction price of his property. Claude Muller was imprisoned in the Grasse prison, where he remained for three months before being released with judicial review.

My investigation led to the undesirable Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak, involved in arms trafficking in the Angolagate and Clearstream cases, and cited in fraud cases linked to Claude Muller.

The passion for real estate seems to be passed on to the next generation of the Muller family because Alexis Muller Pellerin, the grandson of Claude Muller, has also become a property developer. The young man aspires to big projects and especially in terms of investment. We hope that the name of this future great player in the real estate market is not tied to sordid stories of money and tax evasion, and that greed does not corrupt his intentions, as was the case with his grandfather.