MTV CEO Michel al-Murr. (Rights reserved)
Metn enforcement judge Rana Akoum ordered on Wednesday the seizure of all property and company shares belonging to Gabriel, Jihad and Carole al-Murr, the father, brother and sister respectively of MTV CEO Michel al-Murr.
The decision was handed down based on an application by Michel al-Murr and his brother Karl for “usurpation of funds.”
The petition is part of a dispute that has divided the family for several years, notably over the ownership and management of Zaarour Country Club (SAL), MTV and Studio Vision, a media production powerhouse.
The court decision, which L’Orient-Le Jour obtained a copy of, is based on the fact that “the existence of a debt for seizure is probable.” This is to the benefit of Michel in Karl, who in other words, are indeed likely owed money.
“The debt is well-founded,” a legal expert told L’Orient-Le Jour. “The preventive seizure is a measure adopted as part of a debt recovery procedure,” he added.
A source close to the case said, that in other words, if Gabriel, Jihad and Carole al-Murr do not owe Michel and Carl al-Murr money, they will not be successful in obtaining the seizure of their assets.
The seizure comes a few days after the Metn Court of First Instance in Jdeideh declared Michel ineligible to chair MTV’s Board of Directors on Jan.3, following a lawsuit brought forth by Jihad and Carole.
MTV’s CEO remains in his post, however, and has 30 days from the date of notification to lodge an appeal, which has not yet taken place. The appeal procedure has a suspensive effect and may take a long time before the verdict is delivered.
‘Exposing’
On his Twitter account, Jihad downplayed the expected effects of the seizure. “This is only a precautionary measure (...) and not a final judgment. We will lift it in accordance with the legal rules,” he wrote, accusing Michel of “stealing millions of dollars.”
When asked to comment on these accusations, the above-mentioned source close to the case noted that while the family members with whom Michel al-Murr is in conflict are constantly launching “smear campaigns” against him, and “exposing” the family rifts in the media, the CEO of MTV has so far refrained from speaking out, despite being head of the major television channel.
A source close to Michel believes he “does not need to say anything on the subject, particularly since the truth is now clear.”
“The enforcement judge ordered the seizure of assets provisionally estimated at more than $6.6 million.” The source said that Michel’s debt they owe him was provisionally estimated at $4,492,000 and that of his brother Carl at $2,200,000.
The properties concerned by the court order are located in Metn, Kesrouan and Beirut. The concerned shares are held in Zaarour Country Club (SAL), Cristal Mountain (SAL) and The Summit Lounge (SAL).
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour. Translation by Joelle El Khoury.
