Sued: Jean René vs. Sean Connery

Look who’s being sued for allegedly scamming a friend? It’s Sean Connery aka James Bond.

From the Daily Mail:

James Bond legend Sean Connery is being investigated over an alleged £50 million loans scam.

He is due to appear at the Palais de Justice in Geneva next week, where he will asked about ‘1000 per cent interest loans’ made to Jean René, a one-time close friend.

In October Swiss detectives visited the 78-year-old actor in the Bahamas, where he is a tax exile.

Following the interview, judges issued him with a summons.

The surviving family of Mr René, who died in 2002, accuse Connery of selling millions of pounds worth of assets which René had used as collateral against the loans.

They include luxury properties on the French Riviera, shares and hugely expensive diamonds.

French businessman René used the money – lent at the extraordinary high interest rates – to build up a portfolio of land in the south of France.

But, following a falling out, Connery is said to have sold the collateral, including a £1.5 million villa, for far more than the original loan.

After René’s death in 2002, his family began legal proceedings to get the profits from the sales back from Connery.

René’s son, Christian, originally contacted Connery about the alleged debt, continually asking for a settlement.

Connery, who starred in seven Bond films, always declined – leading to the current court action.

‘Neither the diamonds nor the property were Mr Connery’s to sell,’ said family spokesman Ricky Galliano.

‘The loans were being paid back in the proper fashion, and there was no reason for Mr Connery to get rid of the guarantees.

‘The family is asking for all profits from the diamonds and property to be handed back, together with any other items used as loan guarantees.’

Mr Galliano said the items were worth some £10 million in the late 70s and early 80s, so would now be worth a conservative £50 million.

René, known as JR to his family and others close to him, originally became friends with Connery through the actor’s wife, Micheline, whom he married in 1975.

What say you, Mr. Bond?

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