Former minister accused of intimidation

DUBAI // A former minister of state, accused of a multimillion-dirham fraud, could face further charges for allegedly intimidating the sister of his former business partner into a settlement agreement. The former minister appeared in Dubai Misdemeanours Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to charges of betrayal of trust, deception and unlawfully taking possession of money and property belonging to his late Lebanese business partner and his heirs.

The minister was relieved of his Cabinet post in July after he was indicted. Judge Hamad Abdul Jawad adjourned the case until Oct 20. The late businessman's sister filed a complaint earlier this year against the minister, who claimed to own 51 per cent of her late brother's business, Global Information Technology. She said that in fact, the minister was a salaried employee and had no claim on the company.

She claimed that in 2005 the minister deceived her into signing a settlement agreement, under which she forfeited a substantial portion of the business and property her brother owned in Dubai. Her attorney, Hassan Arab, asked the prosecution and the court yesterday to charge the minister with using threats to force his client to sign the agreement. [e-mail]