A millionaire couple are locked in a bitter High Court battle with the “art guru” they once treated “like a son”.
Eskandar and Fatima Maleki, who have a collection of Old Masters and modern works, say they considered art dealer Amir Shariat to be “one of the family”.
However, their lawyers told the court Mr Shariat made “secret profits” of about £640,000 in deals he carried out for them over nine years.
The court heard Mr Shariat, who is based in Vienna, was introduced to the Iranian couple by his father in the Nineties.
Mrs Maleki told the court that after Mr Shariat came to London he became her “art guru”, adding: “He was like a son ... he was one of us.”
Mr Shariat agreed he had been “very close” to the Malekis but said: “I would never have accepted to go into business with someone who would expect me to work for free.”
The Malekis, who have a £22 million mansion in Mayfair, say it was “implied” Mr Shariat was acting on their behalf. The hearing continues.
