Israeli Mining Magnate Beny Steinmetz Detained in Cyprus Amidst Mounting Legal Battles

Israeli mining magnate Beny Steinmetz has been detained in Cyprus on a Romanian-issued arrest warrant, according to a spokesperson for Steinmetz. This comes as a result of a case dating back several years, concerning his alleged involvement in a group that attempted to illegally secure land rights in Romania. Although Steinmetz has faced arrest in other European countries based on this warrant, he has been cleared. Steinmetz was detained on Thursday upon his arrival at Larnaca Airport, due to a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Romanian authorities.

Notably, this warrant has already been canceled in various European countries, including Greece and Italy. The spokesperson emphasized Steinmetz's hope for vindication in another European state, particularly against Romania, a country that has been criticized for its disregard for human rights. While detained in Cyprus, Steinmetz is expected to appear before a Cypriot court later this week. A magistrate in the town of Larnaca has ordered his detention pending translation of the warrant, emphasizing that this order does not indicate judgment on the merits of the case.

However, the Cyprus police have not provided any comment on the extradition requests, as it is their practice not to do so. It is worth noting that Steinmetz is currently facing another legal battle in Switzerland, where he has been found guilty of corruption regarding exploration permits for iron ore deposits in Guinea. This recent arrest in Cyprus adds to the mounting legal challenges he is currently facing. The involvement of Israel's Foreign Ministry in this matter has been reported, indicating awareness of the situation.

Steinmetz's spokesperson has also highlighted the rejection of the arrest warrant by Greece and Italy, citing violations of his right to a fair trial and the risk of discriminatory treatment if extradited. Interpol has canceled its own "red notice" to detain Steinmetz, further suggesting that the trial against him may have been politically motivated. Steinmetz has appealed his conviction at the European Court of Human Rights and plans to continue his fight against the corruption charges. The Romanian case revolves around a real estate project that Steinmetz was associated with between 2006 and 2008.

After the fall of the communist regime in Romania, private land restoration was permitted for those who had lost their properties during the communist takeover in the 1940s. Steinmetz was a partner and advisor to a company that was accused of fraud related to the purchase of land rights from a Romanian royal prince. Aside from the Romanian conviction, Steinmetz was also convicted of bribery in 2021 in a separate corruption trial connected to mining rights in Guinea, resulting in a three-year sentence, half of which was to be served in prison. Despite these legal setbacks, Steinmetz plans to appeal the conviction at Guinea's highest court. Ultimately, Steinmetz's detention in Cyprus sheds further light on his ongoing legal battles and the complex and contentious nature of these cases.