DUBAI // Zack Shahin, the former Deyaar chief executive, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of taking Dh20 million in bribes.
The Criminal Court ruled the Lebanese American, 48, had approved various contracts in return for the money during his tenure at the developer between 2004 and 2007.
Three others charged with aiding and abetting Shahin, and with taking Dh10m in bribes, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.
All four were fined Dh28,556,535 in total and ordered to repay the same amount to Deyaar, but were acquitted of forging bills.
Shahin, who was returned to the UAE from Yemen, has 15 days to appeal against the verdict.
He still faces two charges, including one of jumping bail.
The court also ordered he be deported after completing his prison term.
The other three defendants were K?M, 61, an Argentinian partner at Ambiance Technology; F?L, a Canadian project manager at Thermo; and A?S, the British director general of Thermo.
The two Thermo staff, who are at large, were found guilty of embezzling Dh500,000 each from their company. They were each fined Dh500,000 and ordered to repay the company the same amount.
The court heard the pair won three contracts from Deyaar, the first in June 2005 for U1 and U2 towers in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, worth Dh71m.
The second was in February 2006 for a tower in the Business Bay area worth Dh76m, and the third was for the Metropolis Tower in the Business Bay area, worth Dh55m.
A projects evaluation manager at Thermo testified that the bids for the contracts were prepared by A?S and F?L before being sent to Shahin.
The manager said all senior figures at the company were directed not to work directly with Deyaar but to leave all interaction to A?S and F?L.
An audit of the companies’ records and the bank accounts of the defendants found that amounts of more than Dh30m had been transferred to them.
The director of the Financial Audit Department testified that he found cheques issued to Shahin and uncovered a number of incriminating international money transfers.
Shahin had spent nearly five years in detention and K?M three years when both were granted bail in July 2011, after a hunger strike by Shahin.
As part of the bail conditions, Shahin posted a Dh4.7m surety but both promptly fled the country. Shahin was arrested in Yemen and returned to custody in the UAE. K?M remains at large.
In February the court cleared Shahin and the German M?G, 44, of intentionally causing a loss of public funds while renting a building.
They were accused of renting a residential building owned by Dubai International Financial Centre’s former governor, the Emirati O?B, for more than it was worth, incurring a loss of Dh4.5m to the company between 2008 and 2010.
salamir@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)
Russia 0
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
More coverage from the Future Forum
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
More from our neighbourhood series:
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
