Scandal-hit Israeli billionaire Sami Ofer found dead

[Gerald]

Sami Ofer, an Israeli billionaire at the centre of a scandal over business contacts with Iran, has died at his home in Tel Aviv.

Israeli media reported the 89-year-old had passed away after a long illness.

The US last month imposed sanctions on the Ofer Brothers Group, co-owned by Mr Ofer and his brother Yuli, accusing it of selling an oil tanker to a blacklisted Iranian firm.

The Ofers denied any wrongdoing, saying the US had made an unfortunate mistake.

Forbes magazine recently said the brothers were the richest men in Israel with interests in shipping, chemicals, real estate worth $10.3bn (£6.3bn) in total.
Forbidden contact

They have faced a mounting backlash in their home country over the allegations that Ofer Brothers Group and its Singapore-based subsidiary, Tanker Pacific Management, were involved in a sale to Iran's national shipping company, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13638780


Note: 3 June 2011 Last updated at 10:19 GMT