The Raven Project Leaks: In 2016, During His Tenure As Qatari Ambassador To France, Mashal Bin Hamad Aal Thani, Now Qatari Ambassador To The U.S., Reportedly Bribed French Minister

The following is a translation of a document in Arabic that was leaked as part of Project Raven.[1]The leaked Qatari document reportedly reveals that former Qatari Ambassador to France Mashal bin Hamad Aal Thani, who is currently Qatari Ambassador to the U.S., bribed French Secretary of State for Relations with Parliament Jean-Marie Le Guen in March 2016.

The alleged bribery scandal has been discussed in the French media. Mashal Aal Thani never sued the French news website, Blast, that reported on this.[2]

Qatari Embassy in Paris

Date: March 23, 2016                                                                                                

Secret

The Honorable Sheikh Muhammad bin Abd Al-Rahman Aal Thani

Foreign Minister

The Foreign Ministry

Doha

Warm greetings, and now to the matter at hand:

Pursuant to Your Honor's letter (no. w kh/5/1461/2016), of March 16, 2016, regarding Mr. Jean-Marie Le Guen, Secretary of State for Relations with the French Parliament, I am happy to inform you that, in accordance with your request in the abovementioned letter, a sum of 160,000 (one hundred and sixty thousand) euros has been transferred to Mr. Jean-Marie Le Guen out of the custody cash that remains at the Embassy and is intended for public relations. This is in return for his future services to the state of Qatar.

I am also happy to append the (secret) agreement protocol between the Qatari Embassy and Mr. Jean-Marie Le Guen, Secretary of State for Relations with the French Parliament.

For your information,

Respectfully yours,

Mashal bin Hamad Aal Thani

The Ambassador