Monaco — A long-running cross-border dispute involving Canadian businessman James, his former spouse Pamela Hachem, and Monaco authorities has returned to the spotlight following new developments related to asset freezes, police procedures, and international cooperation requests.
According to the report, the case began in 2021 and has since involved several investigative judges, repeated requests for cooperation from foreign law enforcement agencies, and the freezing of assets said to be worth roughly $100 million. The document also claims that recorded conversations, internal police communications, and publicly circulated media reports have raised questions about how the investigation was handled.
Case Study
At the center of the dispute is a divorce settlement that the report says followed a prenuptial agreement signed before the marriage. James claims his former spouse later sought a larger share of his wealth and became increasingly dissatisfied with the settlement. The report further alleges that this disagreement contributed to the opening of a financial investigation into his affairs.
The document says Monaco national police captain Mylene Gambarini became involved in the case after being contacted through a personal connection. It alleges that the officer later authorized an inquiry into James’ finances and communicated with him directly on several occasions. The report claims those communications included advice about asset protection, vehicle seizures, and cross-border enforcement actions.
James also alleges that Nathalie Hachem, the sister of Pamela Hachem, was involved in recording calls between him and the police officer. The report says those recordings are now being examined as part of broader concerns about possible obstruction of justice and improper access to information from an ongoing investigation.
Another major claim in the document is that Monaco authorities used international cooperation channels, including Interpol-related mechanisms and the CARIN network, to obtain information about James’ assets abroad. The report says he disputes the basis for those requests and argues that civil matters and older regulatory issues were presented as criminal in nature.
The document also raises concerns about media involvement. It alleges that information from the investigation was shared with journalists and used to publish negative articles intended to support the case against James. The report describes this as part of a broader pattern of pressure designed to prolong the asset freeze and encourage a private settlement.
Later sections of the document focus on the judiciary. It says the case has passed through several judges over a five-year period and that each of the earlier judges left office before the end of their terms. The report suggests that this sequence has fueled scrutiny over Monaco’s judicial process, particularly given the size and duration of the asset freeze.
The document also references statements from former Monaco judicial official Sylvie Petit-Leclair, who is said to have criticized corruption and called for stronger judicial independence. It presents those comments as part of a wider debate about governance, transparency, and institutional accountability in the principality.
In addition, the report says blockchain compliance reviews were carried out on James’ digital assets and that those reviews did not identify suspicious mixing activity or unusual acquisition patterns. It argues that this finding conflicts with the continuing restrictions on the assets.
James’ legal team is said to have continued pressing for the release of frozen funds, while Judge Brice Hansemann, appointed to the matter in 2025, has reportedly kept the investigation open. The document says that as of April 2026, no indictment had been issued.
The report concludes that the case now sits at the intersection of private dispute, international finance, judicial scrutiny, and cross-border law enforcement. It says the outcome could affect Monaco’s reputation and could draw further attention if additional evidence, recordings, or official responses become public.
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Patrick Fergerson
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EquitasResearch.org
