A New York judge on Friday ruled that Donald Trump must pay about $355 million in penalties for fraudulently overstating his net worth to dupe lenders, in a decision that is likely to have major ramifications for the former president's real estate empire.
New York Attorney General Letitia James had accused Mr Trump and his businesses of inflating his net worth by as much as $3.6 billion over the course of a decade.
Ms James had sought penalties amounting to $370 million and to have Mr Trump and the other defendants banned from conducting business in New York.
Two of his sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, who were also named in the case, have been barred from serving as officers or directors of any New York corporation for two years. They were ordered to pay $4 million each.
The stiff penalty was a victory for Ms James, a Democrat, who sued Mr Trump over what she said was not harmless bragging but years of deceptive practices, as he built the multinational collection of skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties that catapulted him to wealth, fame and the White House.
By making himself seem richer, Mr Trump was able to qualify for better loan terms, saved on interest and was able to complete projects he might otherwise not have finished, New York state lawyers said.
Mr Trump's legal team had said even before the verdict was announced that they would appeal.
Judge Arthur Engoron had already ruled in a pretrial hearing that Mr Trump had committed fraud. During that ruling, Mr Engoron had ordered Mr Trump's business licences to be cancelled.
Donald Trump’s legal woes – in pictures
Mr Engoron cancelled his prior ruling ordering the “dissolution” of companies that control pillars of Mr Trump's real estate empire, saying on Friday that this was no longer necessary because he is appointing an independent monitor and compliance director to oversee the businesses.
In the ruling, Mr Engoron wrote that Mr Trump and the other defendants in the case “are incapable of admitting the error of their ways”.
“Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological,” the judge wrote.
“Instead, they adopt a 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' posture that the evidence belies.”
After the verdict was announced, Ms James told reporters: "There cannot be different rules for different people in this country, and former presidents are no exception.
"This decision is a massive victory for anyone who believes in that simple but fundamental pillar of our democracy, that the rule of law applies to all of us equally, fairly and justly."
The former president attended several hearings, using the televised proceedings as a de facto campaign stop in which he proclaimed his innocence and said the case was politically motivated.
Friday's ruling comes during a critical week for Mr Trump, seen as the likely Republican nominee in the 2024 US election.
A separate judge in New York gave the go-ahead for Mr Trump's federal hush-money trial to begin as scheduled on March 25.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, where he faces dozens of racketeering charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 electoral results in Georgia, his lawyers are seeking to disqualify the lead prosecutor in the case.
Mr Trump faces two additional federal cases in Florida and Washington related to his mishandling of classified documents since leaving office and for his efforts to overturn his 2020 electoral defeat.
Donald Trump zips his lips after testifying in civil case - video
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E660hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C100Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488km-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh850%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOctober%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
