Jeffrey Epstein was involved in talks about buying Stansted airport while also using it to traffic women into the UK, recently released emails appear to show.
Police are investigating allegations that Epstein used Stansted, in Essex, and other airports to smuggle women into the UK.
Last week, former prime minister Gordon Brown claimed that “women were transferred from one Epstein plane to another” at Stansted, adding that “women arriving on private planes into Britain would not need British visas”.
Around 90 private flights linked to the paedophile financier are believed to have arrived at or departed from UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018, including 15 following his conviction for child sex offences in 2008.
Emails show that in 2011, Epstein sent business proposals for Stansted to at least one Chinese investor. The idea was first suggested to him by David Stern, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s aide who acted as go-between for Epstein and the then-duke.
Epstein forwarded proposals for a deal on Stansted to Desmond Shum, a Chinese businessman, in July 2011, emails released by the US Department of Justice appear to show.
The British Airports Authority (BAA) had been ordered to sell Stansted to increase competition among London airports. BAA also owned Heathrow at the time.
Epstein was first introduced to Shum by Peter Mandelson, then business secretary, in February 2010, just seven months after the sex offender’s release from prison.
Shum had previously developed China’s largest air cargo facility at Beijing airport. In the emails to Epstein, Mandelson described Shum as a “major developer” who had a “big investment fund”. Shum was “tall and good looking (and straight),” he added.
The same month, Mandelson told Shum that Epstein was an “unusual person” who was “well-connected” in the world of business, but had “been subject to a tough time in his private life”.
Shum replied to Mandelson: “I am seeing Jeffrey at today 3pm. Thanks for hooking us up.”
‘Do you want to send the idea… to the Chinese guy?’
In March, 2011, Stern emailed Epstein to say: “Do you want to send the idea (if you like it) of investing in Stansted airport to the Chinese guy that came to see you (Beijing Capital airport)?
“Good way to test him. Could be an interesting deal.”
Emails show David Stern put forward to Epstein business proposals for Stansted airport (Photo: US Department of Justice)Stern had extensive ties with China and had accompanied Mountbatten-Windsor on official Government trips to Beijing and Hong Kong in 2010 while the royal was trade envoy.
On 13 July, an email sent to Epstein from a redacted address said: “I am helping Chinese airport group for relationship reasons to get access to Stansted airport, but I am quite sure they will not buy it. Value approx £1billion.
“The owner – Ferrovial from Spain – must sell and would now consider exclusivity. Interesting for us?” Ferrovial had bought BAA in 2006.
An email sent to Epstein shows an unknown associate saying they were helping a Chinese airport group get access to Stansted, and asking Epstein if the airport’s sale would be ‘interesting for us’ (Photo: US Department of Justice)Epstein, who built a net worth of $600m in part by helping mega-rich individuals manage their fortunes, replied to the email “I need more info”.
On 15 July, Stern enquired “Stansted any good or not” to which the convicted sex offender replies “don’t know yet”.
‘A deal you might enjoy’
The same day, Epstein emailed Shum to say “I attached a deal you might enjoy” along with a powerpoint document entitled Stansted Valuation.
Shum replied two days later to say he would “revert on the deal”.
On 19 July, Stern forwarded Epstein a report from The Wall Street Journal about the sale of Stansted.
Epstein emailed Chinese investor Desmond Shum about a ‘deal that you might enjoy’ (Photo: US Department of Justice)Shum replied to Epstein, forwarding an “initial analysis of the Stansted opportunity” which concluded it “may not be right for us”, with Shum adding “the opportunity does not seem promising”.
Stansted airport was eventually sold in 2013, to the owner of Manchester Airport, for £1.5bn. There is no suggestion that the BAA or Ferrovial were ever involved in negotiations with Epstein.
Epstein trafficking claims
The latest revelation comes amid claims Epstein may have exploited loopholes in passenger checks for private jets in order to traffic women into the UK.
Gordwon Brown has written to police forces demanding that airline employees, and staff at nine airports, are questioned about Epstein’s flights to the UK.
Mandelson was released on bail on Tuesday after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied any wrongdoing and has said he will fully co-operate with the police investigation.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested and released last Thursday over the same alleged offence. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Shum said: “I’m fully aware my past correspondence with JE [Jeffrey Epstein] is out there. Many have looked into it. I don’t have anything to comment on the subject.”
Hence then, the article about epstein plotted deal to buy stansted airport while using it to traffic women to uk was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Epstein plotted deal to buy Stansted airport while ‘using it to traffic women to UK’ )
Also on site :
- Sacramento's I Street bridge project clears major financial hurdle, bids for construction open in 1 month
- Is Luke Thompson Returning to ‘Bridgerton’ Season 5? Star Breaks Silence on Benedict’s Future (Exclusive)
- Homemade dumplings are a Lunar New Year staple. Last week, a cafe invited those who’d never made them to give it a try.