‘Harem’ businessman has goods returned

Photo: Cordon Press.

The 'harem' house was in upmarket Marbella.

An Iranian businessman, 57, arrested in Marbella for allegedly abusing nine women who lived with him, has recovered goods worth €4 million which he had reported stolen.

 

Soha Sohai was initially arrested after a German woman, 36, who is legally married to him, went to Marbella police claiming she and eight others were being held and abused by Sohai.

Just three hours after his release he returned to the police station, claiming his house had been burglarized in his absence and that valuable goods and at least €15,000 in cash were missing.

He suspected that the items, including Persian carpets, TVs, jewellery and works of art could be in eight containers which were due to be sent to Germany, and they were immobilized by police until the judge handling the case, the legal secretary, and Sohai, accompanied by his lawyers, were able to examine the contents.

The containers were at an international removals company in Estepona and the judge allowed Sohai to take most of the items, which were in 160 boxes, back to his homes in Marbella and Estepona.

However, he says some jewellery and many works of art are still missing. Until the case is resolved, he is able to make use of his possessions, but not sell them.

The goods had allegedly been taken from his homes by three of the women whilst he was under arrest. The services of the removal company were hired by one of the women.

According to a report in local Spanish daily Diario Sur, one of the women charged with the robbery has in turn made a complaint against the court which ordered that the goods be returned to the Iranian because she was not notified of the decision and claims that some of her personal belongings are amongst the items. She also claims that in the years she lived with him, he stole large amounts of money and items from her.

The women accused of robbery have not yet been called to give statements.

When Sohai reported his goods had been stolen, the women’s lawyers claimed they had left the house to give their statements to the police and hadn’t returned since.

In the reports against him, it was claimed that he lived with 10 women in their twenties, mostly Eastern European and Asians, and that several children were born from these relationships.

The women claimed that they were forced to ask for money from their families but otherwise denied all contact with them or any of their friends by Sohai and required to tell him where they were at all times.

Meanwhile, he says that the women’s claims are ludicrous, that he did not have a harem and that they were free at all times to do what they wanted. 

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