David Pegg

1 month ago | theguardian.com | David Pegg |Edward Siddons

Queen Elizabeth II’s private solicitor spent eight years helping to manage the offshore wealth of the uncle of the recently deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, an investigation has established. Rifaat al-Assad became known as the “butcher of Hama” after allegations he played a key role in a massacre of thousands of Syrians at the city of Hama in 1982. In 2024, Switzerland formally charged him with war crimes.

1 month ago | thebureauinvestigates.com | Ed Siddons |David Pegg

Queen Elizabeth’s private solicitor spent eight years helping to manage the offshore wealth of an alleged war criminal, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and the Guardian can reveal. Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, is known as the “butcher of Hama” due to longstanding allegations that he played a key role in the 1982 massacre of tens of thousands of Syrians. In 2024, Switzerland formally charged him with war crimes.

Dec 18, 2024 | theguardian.com | David Pegg

Prince Andrew is in trouble again, this time for meeting a businessman who has denied spying for China. In parliament, it has sparked fears about how far the British establishment has been infiltrated by spies. In Beijing, there has been outrage. For Prince Andrew, it has led to him missing Christmas dinner at Sandringham with the rest of the royal family. It is fair to say the accusation that the Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo has been spying for China has caused a serious stir.

Dec 17, 2024 | theguardian.com | David Pegg

In parliament, it has sparked fears about how far the British establishment has been infiltrated by spies. In Beijing, there has been outrage. For Prince Andrew, it has led to him missing Christmas dinner at Sandringham with the rest of the royal family. It is fair to say the accusation that the Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo has been spying for China has caused a serious stir.

Dec 17, 2024 | theguardian.com | David Pegg

During his time in the UK, Yang Tengbo created and operated a range of entities, interests and trade associations. The most intriguing is a company with a direct connection with one of Prince Andrew’s closest advisers. In 2005, three years after he moved to the UK, Yang set up his principal company, Hampton Group International. Originally called Newland UK, its earliest accounts describe it as a tour operator rather than any form of consultancy.