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DE RUEHSO #0269 0722022
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O 132022Z MAR 06
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SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL - ERINDLER; S/CT FOR NNOYES; WHA/BSC FOR 
CCROFT; NEA FOR DAS DIBBLER 
TREASURY FOR TFI-C 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:          
SUBJECT: LEBANESE SUSPECT IN HARIRI ASSASSINATION ARRESTED 
IN BRAZIL 
 
REF: 05 BEIRUT 2216 
 
 1. (U)  This cable was coordinated with Embassy Brasilia. 
 
 2. (SBU) Sao Paulo State Civil Police arrested Rana Abdel 
Rahim Koleilat (PDOB Lebanon 23 JAN 1976) on March 12 based 
on an Interpol warrant for her involvement in the mid-2003 
collapse of the Lebanese-based Al-Madina Bank.  She is the 
main suspect in the USD one billion fraud that allegedly 
involved money laundering for various Islamic extremist 
groups.  Koleilat was arrested in the Parthenon Accor Hotel 
in the Santana district of Sao Paulo based on an anonymous 
tip.  She had a British passport (suspected to be fake) with 
her real name, as well an Egyptian passport with the name 
Fakhriya Mhanna.  A Civil Police spokesman told the press 
that Koleilat tried to bribe Brazilian police with USD 
200,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to release her.  Lebanese 
Consul General in Sao Paulo Joseph Sayah told us that she has 
apparently been in Brazil for six months (including in Rio de 
Janeiro and other cities) and is in an illegal immigration 
status in Brazil since she had overstayed her initial entry 
permit, even if the passport she used turns out to be real. 
Sayah also told us that the UN Independent International 
Investigation Commission set up to look into the February 
2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri 
wants to question her with regard to the assassination, since 
Syrian Military Intelligence Chief Rustom Ghazaleh, the chief 
suspect in the Hariri assassination, was heavily involved in 
the Al-Madina Bank's money laundering scheme. 
 
 3. (SBU) Koleilat is to be turned over shortly to the custody 
of the Federal Police, which has jurisdiction over Interpol 
cases.  While Lebanese CG Sayah confirmed that Lebanon and 
Brazil do not have an extradition treaty, both Sayah and 
Civil Police contacts told us they expect Koleilat will be 
deported to Lebanon.  He added that he has seen Koleilat in 
custody and that she seems willing to return to Lebanon. 
Sayah told us the UN Investigation Commission is aware of 
Koleilat's arrest and has communicated to the Brazilian 
Mission at the UN their request to interrogate her.  Sayah 
asserted that all UN member countries, like Brazil, are 
obligated to assist the Commission. 
 
 4. (SBU) Sayah, initially concerned that Koleilat would bribe 
her way to freedom, seems more confident she will stay in 
jail for now.  Post has let various police contacts know our 
interest in keeping her detained until she can be removed to 
Lebanon.  RSO is working via channels to ensure Interpol and 
the British Consulate act quickly to provide Brazilian police 
with whatever they need to move the case forward. 
 
 5. (SBU) Action Request:  Mission Brazil requests guidance 
from the Department on any actions to be taken with regard to 
the Koleilat case. 
MCMULLEN