1.9 million francs fine – Renowned collector tricks with his art treasures
Renowned collector tricked his art treasures
The Geneva art dealer Ali Aboutaam imported valuable antiques without paying VAT. Now the customs administration took action – also against his wife, the housekeeper and the chauffeur.
After the fine condemnation because of art smuggling from Urs E. Schwarzenbach, owner of the hotel the Dolder Large in Zurich, Another art dealer has gone online for the Federal Customs Administration. Renowned Geneva collector Ali Aboutaam must go to the state around 6 Pay millions of francs: 4th Millions for unpaid VAT on his art treasures and a fine of 1.9 million francs. This emerges from a penalty notice from the customs administration dated November 5th, which this newspaper receivedhas seen.
According to this, Aboutaam brought antiques worth over 37 million francs in Switzerland between 2010 and 2017 without paying the applicable VAT. He introduced them in the so-called relocation procedure. Galleries are allowed to bring works into the country duty-free if they plan to sell the valuable pieces again. However, Aboutaam used them privately, i.e. the customs administration.