Mohamed Hadid could go to jail over Bel-Air mansion fiasco

Famed real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid, best known for his star turns on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and as the father of supermodel Gigi Hadid, is facing criminal charges for allegedly failing to halt the construction and demolish illegal features of a brand new Bel-Air mansion, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hadid has been hit with charges of illegally using land, building without a permit and failure to obey orders from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety for his role in the construction of the elaborate house, at 901 Strada Vecchia, which has been dubbed the “starship enterprise” by frustrated neighbors.

Some features of the home, including a 70-seat, underground Imax theater and guest suites built below a swimming pool, were not approved by the city, meaning the home is in violation of local law. One neighbor, Joseph Horacek, even contends that the construction has destabilized the hillside on which his own home is built, the Times said.

Hadid, who owns the property under an LLC, was ordered to stop construction on the home in September but allegedly continued the work.

City Councilman Paul Koretz called him a “blatant scofflaw.” [LA Times] — Katherine Clarke