DUBAI // A senior Nakheel executive who resigned last week has been ordered to testify at the trial of two other former executives accused of fraud in connection with the shelved Dubai Waterfront project.
The Dubai Criminal Court said yesterday that Manal Shaheen, the property firm's former sales chief executive, would be summoned to testify in the trial of MJ, the chief executive of the Dubai Waterfront project, ML, his deputy, and two other Australians.
They are accused of giving false information about the ownership and value of a plot of land at the waterfront project to defraud an Australian developer, Sunland Group, of more than Dh44 million (US$12m).
The presiding judge, El Saeed Bargouth, told the court that Ms Shaheen would be cross examined by MJ's lawyer, Salem al Sha'ali, on the question of whether she had sanctioned the sale of the plot by the defendants to Sunland Group.
Court records show that suspicions over the deflated sales price of plot D-17 led to an investigation by the Dubai Government's financial audit department.
Dubai Waterfront was a sprawling coastal development project near Jebel Ali that has fizzled out.
Mr al Sha'ali told the court yesterday that his client received some of the money he is accused of embezzling prior to his employment with Nakheel, which made it legal.
Prosecutors accuse MJ and ML, along with fellow Australians AB and AR, of swindling David Brown, Sunland's representative in Dubai. Two other suspects, the Waterfront project's chief lawyer, AB, and AR, a businessman, remain at large.
Mr Brown was allegedly instructed to pay the money for plot D-17 to AR's company, Prudential Investment, which the men claimed was the owner of the land.
In fact, Dubai-based Nakheel owned the land, prosecutors say.
In an apparent bid to make the deal more attractive to Mr Brown, the defendants allegedly quoted a land value far lower than the actual price.
Mr Brown told prosecutors that he and AR agreed on a partnership deal to develop properties on the land, but later decided Mr Brown would pay Dh44.1m (US$12m) for outright ownership.
Mohammed Hussein, the lead fraud investigator at the financial audit department, told prosecutors he discovered MJ had received Dh22.1m from AR and deposited the money in an offshore bank account, and alleged that ML and AB made large sums of money for facilitating the fraud by presenting false information to Nakheel and Sunland.
The court adjourned the trial until April 6.
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New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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Naga
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