text: Facing investigation: Rifaat al-Assad, 77, is being probed by French police over his £64million fortune . The uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is facing a criminal investigation in France after amassing a £64million fortune despite being kicked out of Syria 'with nothing' 30 years ago. Prosecutors in Paris have revealed details of the year-long probe into Rifaat al-Assad's finances. Mr al-Assad, 77, went into exile in Europe after staging a failed coup against his brother Hafez al Assad, who was Syria's president at the time and is also Bashar's father. He has since spent more than 30 years living a life of luxury moving between homes in Paris, London and the southern Spanish city of Marbella. The inquiry into the former Syrian vice president's finances was triggered by Sherpa, an activist group representing the victims of financial crime, which claims his fortune was stolen during his time at the heart of the Syrian regime. His family's assets, outlined by French customs in a May 2014 report, are valued at around £64million - much of it held through a web of businesses based in Luxembourg. Mr al-Assad has vehemently denied acquiring assets in France through illegal means. He also told investigators he 'had nothing' when he left Syria, having always given his wages away to the poor, according to a source close to the investigation. 'It was (then French president) Francois Mitterrand who asked me to come to France... he was very kind,' he said, according to the source. On Friday, one of Mr al-Assad's lawyers said: 'Were there even the slightest doubt over my client's real estate ... would President Francois Mitterrand have awarded him the Legion d'Honneur (France's highest distinction) in 1986?' He told Reuters that his client's property holdings dated back to 1984-1986 and were transparent and legal. Heart of the regime: Rifaat al-Assad (left) is pictured with his brother, the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, in 1984 before his exile from the country . His nephew: Activists say Rifaat al-Assad (pictured in 1984, left), who is the uncle of current Syrian President Bashar (right), stole money from the country while operating at the heart of its government . His son Siwar al-Assad told France Info radio his father had received funds since 1984 from 'states, leaders and friends abroad'. That included a gift from the king of Saudi Arabia of a 45 hectare (111 acre) property and stud farm north of Paris, he said. Mr Al-assad claims he invested these gifts in property, but did not keep a close eye on the details. 'I only occupy myself with politics,' he said, according to the source. 'They bring me papers to sign... I don't know how to pay, even in restaurants.' Other members of the family have given evidence that Saudi backers have supported them ever since their exile in the 1980s. Another of Mr Al-assad's lawyers Benjamin Grundler says his client 'lives principally from the sale of apartments... and from the regular help of Saudi Arabia', stressing 'it is not Syrian money'. Defending his father: Siwar al-Assad -  the son of Rifaat al-Assad and Bashar's cousin - told France Info radio his father had received funds since 1984 from 'states, leaders and friends abroad' However, French Syria expert Fabrice Balanche, of CNRS University in Lyons, told the probe he is highly sceptical about the explanations. Speaking to investigators, he said: 'Saudi Arabia has no interest in supporting Rifaat, who doesn't represent anything.' Mr Al-assad commanded Syria's notorious internal security forces in the 1970s and early 1980s. Those forces carried out the bloody Hama massacre in 1982, which crushed a small Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing between 10,000 and 25,000 civilians in the process, according to Amnesty International. Mr Al-assad has always denied having a leading role in the massacre. Pictured during regime: Rifaat al-Assad (right) is seen with his brother Hafez (left) and Syrian politician Abdel Halim Khaddam (centre)
target: Rifaat al Assad is facing criminal probe over how he amassed huge fortune .
  Activists say it was stolen from Syria when he was at heart of its regime .
  Rifaat, 77, is brother of late Hafez al Assad - Syria's president for 29 years .
  He headed notorious internal security forces during 1982 Hama massacre .
  And was later exiled to Europe  after attempting to seize power from brother .