Mohamed Hadid says decision to demolish his mansion is ‘racism’

Mohamed Hadid has blasted California’s legal system over the decision to demolish his controversial Bel Air mega-mansion, claiming the ruling is a ‘total abortion of justice’.

And the furious property tycoon has vowed to write a book about the eight year saga to expose the ‘racism’ and ‘prejudice’, which he believes has fueled it.

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed California’s Supreme Court had torpedoed Hadid’s last ditch bid to save his mansion from the wrecking ball.

The state’s highest court denied Hadid’s motion to review his case and overturn the decision of a lower court – later backed up by the Court of Appeal – that his hilltop property in upscale Bel Air should be torn down because it’s a ‘clear and present danger’ to the homes of neighbors suing him.

But Hadid has branded the decision a ‘political lynching’ because of his high-profile and believes the color of his skin and religious beliefs played a major part.

‘I’ve never seen anything like this in my life and I’ve been doing this for 40 years,’ he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

Mohamed Hadid has blasted California’s legal system over the decision to demolish his controversial Bel Air mega-mansion, claiming the ruling is a ‘total abortion of justice’. He told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview: ‘I’ve been all over the world and I’ve never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it’s crazy’

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed California's Supreme Court had torpedoed Hadid's last ditch bid to save his mansion from the wrecking ball

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed California’s Supreme Court had torpedoed Hadid’s last ditch bid to save his mansion from the wrecking ball

The state's highest court denied Hadid's motion to review his case and overturn the decision of a lower court - later backed up by the Court of Appeal - that his hilltop property in upscale Bel Air should be torn down because it's a 'clear and present danger' to the homes of neighbors suing him

The state’s highest court denied Hadid’s motion to review his case and overturn the decision of a lower court – later backed up by the Court of Appeal – that his hilltop property in upscale Bel Air should be torn down because it’s a ‘clear and present danger’ to the homes of neighbors suing him 

Lawyers for 71-year-old Hadid - father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid - had argued that the giant structure is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer was denied the 'process of law'

Lawyers for 71-year-old Hadid – father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid – had argued that the giant structure is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer was denied the ‘process of law’

‘I don’t just build here in LA, I’ve been all over the world and I’ve never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it’s crazy, it’s a total abortion of justice.

‘There was supposed to be a jury trial, what happened to a jury trial?

‘This is a total political lynching, from the top to the bottom. They blame me. Do they blame the inspectors? No. Deputy inspectors? No. Engineers? No, they blame me.’

And Hadid says he’s so angry over the disastrous construction project, which he says has ruined his reputation, that he plans to chronicle the whole thing in a book.

‘I’m going to write a book. I swear to God, I know it sounds like fantasy, but it’s reality. It’s a real thing happening here in this town.

‘Have you ever heard of any house in Bel Air or in Los Angeles which has been demolished. Never, never. Nobody’s ever seen it.

I’ve never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it’s crazy, it’s a total abortion of justice. This is a total political lynching, from the top to the bottom. 

‘I’ll call the book Travesty… Extortion and Injustice. It’s a saga.’

Hadid, a Muslim Palestinian-American, added: ‘In my opinion, and I hate to say it, this whole thing is prejudice against me, who I am and my religion. They’re racist. Absolute racist.

‘There is something beyond the normal that has happened here. I know that, I’m 100 percent and I want to write about it.’

The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case was a major victory for the neighbors who are hoping that demolition of the half-built ‘monstrosity’ will begin next month.

Lawyers for 71-year-old Hadid – father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid – had argued that the giant structure is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer was denied the ‘process of law.’

LA Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan’s injunction ordering the demolition of the huge building ‘was done without trial… without proof of an emergency, and without proof of the existence of a nuisance,’ his lawyers blasted in documents obtained by DailyMail.com. 

But Hadid says the fight isn’t over yet and believes he still has a slim chance through the court system to stop the wrecking ball.

‘It’s not over. No, not yet,’ he said.

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on 'nightmare neighbor' Joe Horacek (pictured in front of his home with Hadid's home in the background), who he says became 'obsessed' with the case

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on ‘nightmare neighbor’ Joe Horacek (pictured in front of his home with Hadid’s home in the background), who he says became ‘obsessed’ with the case

The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case is a major victory for the neighbors who are hoping that demolition of the half-built 'monstrosity' will begin by next month

The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case is a major victory for the neighbors who are hoping that demolition of the half-built ‘monstrosity’ will begin by next month

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on ‘nightmare neighbor’ Joe Horacek, who he says became ‘obsessed’ with the case.

‘I was being tried in the court of public opinion because of him, there was 160 press articles,’ Hadid explained.

‘This guy had nothing to do except me. I am his life, he is obsessed,’ Hadid said.

Hadid accuses Horacek of poisoning other neighbors against him in a bid to get them to join a civil action he launched.

He also accuses the neighbor of running a smear campaign to paint him as a criminal.

In a previous interview with DailyMail.com, Hadid claimed that Horacek, 78, demanded $3.5 million to ‘go away’ but when he refused to hand over any money he claims his neighbor became his sworn enemy.

In a transcript of the conversation seen by DailyMail.com, Horacek says: ‘I don’t get in your way, you don’t get in my way,’ while discussing a compensation agreement based on Horacek’s claim his house had been devalued by Hadid’s mansion.

A deal was never struck.

‘Every single day when he was in town he would take his camera and start taking pictures of us, he was like a stalker, he stalked my kids, he would find where I am, where I eat,’ Hadid claims.

‘You would see him in a tree near the building site with binoculars, it was a joke. He was there every day, he called the City every day and they came every day, so there was no way either I or anyone else on the job would have gone around anything.’

Hadid says Horacek went out of his way to find planning issues with the property that he could report to the City of Los Angeles planning department.

Hadid insists the building was inspected more than 700 times. 'There were plans, there were inspectors, deputy inspectors, you have the mechanical engineer, geology engineers,' Hadid explains. 'Everything was approved by an inspector, 100 percent. Every time you dig a hole several people are there watching.'

Hadid insists the building was inspected more than 700 times. ‘There were plans, there were inspectors, deputy inspectors, you have the mechanical engineer, geology engineers,’ Hadid explains. ‘Everything was approved by an inspector, 100 percent. Every time you dig a hole several people are there watching.’

Hadid says Judge Craig Karlan came to tour the property, pointed his finger and said: 'This house must come down.' 'How can he do that as a judge?' Hadid added. Pictured: Judge Karlan inspecting Hadid's half built mega mansion in Bel Air

Hadid says Judge Craig Karlan came to tour the property, pointed his finger and said: ‘This house must come down.’ ‘How can he do that as a judge?’ Hadid added. Pictured: Judge Karlan inspecting Hadid’s half built mega mansion in Bel Air 

Hadid said in total - through loans and money he and other creditors have invested - he's put $50 million into the huge home which he had hoped to sell for more than $100 million

Hadid said in total – through loans and money he and other creditors have invested – he’s put $50 million into the huge home which he had hoped to sell for more than $100 million 

But he insists the building was inspected more than 700 times.

‘There were plans, there were inspectors, deputy inspectors, you have the mechanical engineer, geology engineers,’ Hadid explains.

‘Everything was approved by an inspector, 100 percent. Every time you dig a hole several people are there watching.’

Hadid claims the foundations were laid and they had a survey done and were ready to complete the main structure of the house before Horacek approached him.

He cites a transcript of a recorded conversation between the two men which was submitted into court.

 You can go to any house in LA and find problems if you look hard enough.

‘He said, ”I’m gonna make your life miserable”. Up until that point everything was fine with the City,’ Hadid recalls.

Hadid said he planted 200 mature trees around the house so neighbors couldn’t complain the structure was an eye-sore – but Horacek even complained about that.

‘I had to take them down, that alone cost me $1 million,’ Hadid says.

The businessman claims that Horacek’s constant complaining led to the City putting his project under the microscope.

‘You can go to any house in LA and find problems if you look hard enough,’ he adds.

In response to Hadid’s claims, Joe Horacek’s wife Bibi told DailyMail.com: ‘Hadid is a convicted criminal. It is not about ethnicity or religion. It is about his criminal conduct. He needs to stop blaming my husband for Hadid’s own illegal acts.’ 

Hadid said in total – through loans and money he and other creditors have invested – he’s put $50 million into the huge home which he had hoped to sell for more than $100 million.

And each year the real estate developer must pay a whopping $325,000 in property taxes even though the home is unlivable.

Neighbors have been fighting for years for the demolition of the property because of all the alleged unapproved construction. The development of the home has also been an eyesore to nearby residents and now a danger due to heavy Los Angeles rain

Neighbors have been fighting for years for the demolition of the property because of all the alleged unapproved construction. The development of the home has also been an eyesore to nearby residents and now a danger due to heavy Los Angeles rain 

After demolishing the original house, Hadid began work on his monster project which, as the pictures show, soon came to dominate the site and surrounding area

After demolishing the original house, Hadid began work on his monster project which, as the pictures show, soon came to dominate the site and surrounding area

Hadid has tried several court strategies to stop or delay the demolition. First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming that he 'couldn't afford' the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed. Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan's order to tear down the mansion. That too was denied

Hadid has tried several court strategies to stop or delay the demolition. First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming that he ‘couldn’t afford’ the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed. Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan’s order to tear down the mansion. That too was denied 

However, as DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in April, Hadid has failed to pay $1.2 million in back taxes.

The unpaid property taxes were revealed in court documents filed by Douglas Wilson, the receiver appointed by LA Superior Court to oversee the demolition of the half-built house.

But while Hadid admits to not paying, he insists he shouldn’t have to pay taxes on a building that is about to be demolished and has no value.

‘You have be in the business to know why I’ve not paid my taxes for three years on the house,’ he said.

‘Why have I not paid my taxes, because the house has no value.’.

Hadid also claims the lawyers representing the neighbors over-inflated the value of the property in its current state, which inflated the amount of tax owed.

‘Nobody’s ever come to the house to see what it looks like,’ he said.

‘And the only time you can start paying taxes is when you get your occupancy permit. How could they declare it to be a finished house? It’s ridiculous.’

Hadid says he has built $1.5 billion worth of properties in LA during his long career in real estate.

He estimates the City receives $10-12 million in tax revenue every year from the properties he’s built, not to mention the employment he has created.

And he added that just a few years ago he was heralded as a ‘pioneer’ in the LA real estate market, but now he says his reputation has been ruined.

‘They’re saying I destroyed the city, I destroyed Bel Air,’ he said. ‘Take a look at some of the houses up there, they are atrocious, some of them seven floors high. Yet my property is the only one that would have fallen on Mr Horacek’s head.’

Hadid has tried several court strategies to stop or delay the demolition of his mansion. 

Hadid says he has built $1.5 billion worth of properties in LA during his long career in real estate. He estimates the City receives $10-12 million in tax revenue every year from the properties he's built, not to mention the employment he has created. And he added that just a few years ago he was heralded as a 'pioneer' in the LA real estate market, but now he says his reputation has been ruined

Hadid says he has built $1.5 billion worth of properties in LA during his long career in real estate. He estimates the City receives $10-12 million in tax revenue every year from the properties he’s built, not to mention the employment he has created. And he added that just a few years ago he was heralded as a ‘pioneer’ in the LA real estate market, but now he says his reputation has been ruined

Hadid's problems don't end there. He is also facing a jury trial next month which could cost him millions if he loses. The neighbors - John Bedrosian and his wife Judith and Joe Horacek and his wife Bibi - are suing Hadid for cash damages for the eight-year 'nightmare' they claim he's put them through

Hadid’s problems don’t end there. He is also facing a jury trial next month which could cost him millions if he loses. The neighbors – John Bedrosian and his wife Judith and Joe Horacek and his wife Bibi – are suing Hadid for cash damages for the eight-year ‘nightmare’ they claim he’s put them through 

First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming he ‘couldn’t afford’ the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed.

Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan’s order to tear down the mansion. That too was denied.

Now, with his 11th-hour plea to the Supreme Court falling flat, he has no more legal moves left to stop his beloved mansion from being reduced to rubble and dust.

Razing the gargantuan house to the ground is on track to happen by early to mid July, after the receiver submits his final demo plan, and Judge Karlan approves it.

Hadid’s problems don’t end there.

He is also facing a jury trial next month which could cost him millions if he loses.

 He (the judge) became the jury, an advocate for them (the neighbors) and the judge all at the same time.

The neighbors – John Bedrosian and his wife Judith and Joe Horacek and his wife Bibi – are suing Hadid for cash damages for the eight-year ‘nightmare’ they claim he’s put them through.

The neighbors have good reason to be optimistic about the outcome of the trial, since Judge Karlan has declared they are likely to win their case against him.

This infuriated Hadid.

‘How can he say that before a jury trial,’ he asked. ‘If I win, how can I get my house back? How can the judge give a judgment before we have the court case? That’s why we have a jury. He (the judge) became the jury, an advocate for them (the neighbors) and the judge all at the same time.’

Hadid says the judge came to tour the property, pointed his finger and said: ‘This house must come down.’ 

‘How can he do that as a judge?’ Hadid added.

Asked whether at any point during the eight year ordeal he ever considered just walking away, Hadid responded: ‘I can’t, there’s a bank involved. You can’t just leave a project sitting like this. You can’t call it a day. I had a responsibility to keep this house going, even when it was stopped, because I have a lender and I had partners at the time.’

Hadid’s notorious mansion was originally permitted for 15,000 square feet but the house grew to around 30,000 square feet with much of that additional construction illegal.

Hadid says he's so angry over the disastrous construction project, which he says has ruined his reputation, that he plans to chronicle the whole thing in a book. 'I'm going to write a book. I swear to God, I know it sounds like fantasy, but it's reality. It's a real thing happening here in this town. Have you ever heard of any house in Bel Air or in Los Angeles which has been demolished. Never, never. Nobody's ever seen it'

Hadid says he’s so angry over the disastrous construction project, which he says has ruined his reputation, that he plans to chronicle the whole thing in a book. ‘I’m going to write a book. I swear to God, I know it sounds like fantasy, but it’s reality. It’s a real thing happening here in this town. Have you ever heard of any house in Bel Air or in Los Angeles which has been demolished. Never, never. Nobody’s ever seen it’

He ignored orders from Los Angeles City to stop building and in December 2015, in an almost-unprecedented move, the city decided to prosecute him criminally.

He pleaded no contest to three criminal charges involving illegal construction and in July 2017 he was told he would serve a 180-day jail sentence if he doesn’t reduce the size of the house and bring it into compliance with city building codes – or demolish it – within the three years of probation the judge also imposed.

In addition, he was fined $3,000, ordered to pay $14,191 in fees to LA city, and serve 200 hours of community service.

The neighbors’ lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, told DailyMail.com: ‘This case is not about how Mr Hadid continues to attack his victim neighbors for being brave enough to stand up to him.

‘The case is about uncontroverted evidence: Hadid’s own contractors, his own architects, his own structural and geological experts, and city officials have admitted that his illegal mansion was built through lies and bribes.

‘Only Hadid, who earlier did not deny his crimes, now denies them. Meanwhile, the massive, illegal monstrosity hangs unstably above the neighbors heads.

‘That’s why a judge found it to be a clear and present danger. That’s why Hadid was convicted for his criminal construction. That’s why the criminal judge ordered him to demolish the illegal construction.

‘That’s why the City Attorney should press for the criminal judge to hold Hadid accountable for violating the judge’s order.

‘That’s why a criminal judge, a bankruptcy judge, a civil judge, a court of appeals, and the State Supreme Court have all rejected his false arguments.

‘And that’s why he should not be able to rant or buy his way out of paying the price for his crimes.

‘Finally, Hadid’s latest claim that he wants a jury trial is belied by his continuous attempts to delay it.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk