Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide on Saturday while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. AP
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide on Saturday while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. AP
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide on Saturday while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. AP
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide on Saturday while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. AP

Jeffrey Epstein's death: what we know so far


  • English
  • Arabic

Billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell in the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in Lower Manhattan on Saturday morning.

Epstein, who appeared to have hanged himself, had tried to take his own life three weeks before. He was due to face trial on sex-trafficking charges.

The Manhattan US Attorney’s case against Epstein, 66, for sexual abuse of girls as young as 14 included charges of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy.

The indictment claims he “worked and conspired with others, including employees and associates who facilitated his conduct” in luring girls to his Manhattan and Palm Beach homes between 2002 and 2005.

The billionaire’s death raises questions about his links with the rich and the powerful, having been friends with US President Donald Trump, former US president Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew. All three men have denied being complicit in or knowing about Epstein's sexual offences.

There are many questions around the circumstances of Epstein’s death, considering his previous suicide attempt and that he had been on suicide watch but had been taken off.

The FBI is investigating the circumstances around his final hours and the US Attorney General William Barr said on Monday that there were “serious irregularities” around the death of the financier.

His death has fuelled conspiracy theories, as Epstein had indicated that he had compromising information on many rich and powerful people.

Mr Trump said he wanted a full investigation into the charges.

The Bureau of Prisons has only released one official statement since the billionaire’s death on Saturday.

While the statement confirmed the time Epstein was discovered in his cell, it left many questions unanswered.

Here is what we know about it so far:

The Metropolitan Correctional Centre has a reputation for high-profile prisoners and squalid conditions

Other criminals who have spent time in the prison include Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who was held there until July before being transferred to a maximum-security prison in Colorado.

Also held there were Abu Anas Al Libi and Khalid Al Fawwaz, high-ranking Al Qaeda operatives who were indicted in 2000 on conspiracy charges related to the terrorist group’s 1998 bombings of two US embassies in East Africa, which killed 224 people.

The conditions in the jail are foul. In a statement released through his lawyer, Guzman said he was denied access to clean drinking water and sunlight.

Inmates have reported seeing huge rats in the jail and the plumbing of the building frequently breaks down.

Epstein was put on suicide watch for six days after his first suicide attempt and then taken off

Being on suicide watch means he would have had been moved to a minimalist cell where he would wear a tear-resistant, one-piece smock and have increased scrutiny from guards, sources told CNBC.

It was unclear why he was taken off suicide watch and so quickly, but senior prison officials, including the jail's chief psychiatrist, would have been behind the decision.

The jail was severely understaffed and officers failed to check in on Epstein several hours before he was found dead

He should have been checked regularly every 30 minutes, reports said. That left Epstein alone and unmonitored at least hours before his death.

The prison is short of staff and the Bureau of Prisons is offering a $10,000 bonus to any guard who transfers there from another federal lock-up, AP reported.

Since then, Mr Barr has lifted the hiring freeze and is trying to hire more guards.

Epstein was alone in his cell. Prisoners usually have a cellmate

It is unusual that the billionaire didn’t have a cellmate, considering his previous suicide attempt and that the prison is known for being overcrowded. It remains an unanswered question.

It is also not clear whether there were cameras in the billionaire’s cell, although legal experts say there should have been.

Draw

Quarter-finals

Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)

RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)

Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)

Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

The design

The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.

More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.

The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.

The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.

A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.

Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.

Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.

Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.

 From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.

Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019. 

Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae