Investigation into UAE corruption underway
By: Radha Stirling
Tags: Uae, Money Laundering, Radha Stirling, Fraud, Corruption

UAE corruption to be exposed by a team of investigative journalists and certified fraud examiners working with Detained in Dubai and their clients.

“The prevalence of corruption, fraud and money laundering in the UAE has been swept under the carpet for long enough”, said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, who has been investigating the issue for years. “We are working with big names in financial fraud and corruption to bring light to these issues. The impact of corruption, legal abuse, financial crime and money laundering on human life is grave and often under appreciated. It is not simply the loss of money and assets. The side effects of corruption include human rights abuses, wrongful imprisonment, scapegoating of foreigners, intimidation, threats, forced confessions, abusive Interpol notices and even torture.

“Shortly after coming to power by circumventing the standard succession process, Ras Al Khaimah ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi engaged in a major purge of officials whom he suspected were loyal to his political rivals. He jailed and tortured whoever remained in the country, and the others he has pursued around the world via Interpol and court judgments issued by judges under his control. He seized the government budget after eliminating all the officials responsible for oversight, and has engaged in multiple illicit deals and illegal activities for his own profit, including likely violations of international sanctions against Iran.

“Sheikh Saud has targeted a number of foreign nationals including his former advisor and CEO of RAK Ceramics, Dr Khater Massaad. In doing so, he issued more than five frivolous Interpol red notices against him but has still failed their extradition requests due to a lack of evidence of wrongdoing. He has jailed his former legal advisors, Jihad Quzma and Karam Al Sadeq in an attempt to force them to sign statements that would help him further target Massaad. Both Quzma and Sadeq have filed torture claims in the High Court of England. Johnson George and Reda Boulahdid face similar challenges while US National, Oussama El Omari, has filed lawsuits in the United States against Saud and his agents for Interpol abuse and defamation. Meanwhile, the regime was reported to have hired Israeli intelligence companies to gather information on ourselves and our clients.

“Ras Al Khaimah is increasingly seeking foreign investment, but investors have been warned by the former CEO of RAKIA that it could be a one way street”, added Stirling who has prepared a dossier for Fitch Ratings, which threatens to increase interest rates to the Emirate.

“UAE rulers control the outcome of legal proceedings. They, and those with ‘Wasta’ or influence, use the courts to achieve their personal goals. If they want to seize a company, land or throw a rival in jail, they just need to say the word. We’ve seen it time and time again. The level of corruption is monumental, making the Emirates an extremely risky, volatile and unsafe place for investors. Their life’s work can be stolen via a trial with a predetermined outcome. We’ve seen billions of dollars worth of foreigner owned land, cash and assets be stolen by the Emiratis under the guise of a ‘legal process’ and this is what we are working so hard to expose.

“This should not happen in an allied country that we actively promote business and trade with. As part of our investigation, we are making recommendations to foreign governments on trade and commerce policy, travel warnings and diplomatic arrangements that need to be made. With the support of prominent politicians, researchers and industry experts, the UAE will be pressured from all directions. Prominent foreign promoters, billionaires and businessmen will no longer in good conscience be able to promote the Middle East’s ‘investment and trade hub’ as safe. This would render them complicit in the resulting human rights abuses against foreigners.”