Alleged “items of value” Mohamed Hadid gave city inspector revealed in court filing

Nine months ago, a Los Angeles city investigator discovered evidence an employee had received “items of value” in connection with Mohamed Hadid’s half-built — and controversial — Bel Air mansion.

Now, at least some of those items have been identified. According to a former construction manager at the site, Hadid ordered one of his carpenters to build a set of walnut cabinets in the home of the city inspector tasked with monitoring the property.

It is the latest twist in the ongoing case surrounding Hadid and his 30,000-square-foot project on Strada Vecchia Road.

Russell Linch, the former construction manager at the property, submitted a declaration to the Los Angeles Superior Court this week, detailing the developer’s “personal relationships” with city inspectors, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Linch’s alleged that there are no records that the inspector paid Hadid’s company for the cabinets.

The city investigator who discovered evidence of the alleged cabinet gift, then reportedly shared that information with the FBI, which opened an investigation.

Linch also stated that Hadid did not build the home to be structurally sound. “Because I believe the piles are inadequate to support the house, I believe the house is unsafe and that the entire house must be demolished,” Linch said in the recent declaration. Previously, Linch has made positive statements about Hadid.

Hadid has been at the center of civil, criminal, and FBI cases over the project, which he has touted will be worth $100 million upon completion. The case dates back to 2014, when a judge ordered Hadid to stop construction because of building code violations.

In the ongoing civil case, brought by four Bel Air residents, Hadid has been ordered to demolish parts of the house that were built illegally. As of last month, the third floor of the home was roughly 75 percent demolished. [Los Angeles Times] — Natalie Hoberman