Lawyer hits out at US handling of Zack Shahin case

Lawyers for the fraudster-turned-fugitive say the US embassy in Yemen have failed their client by dragging its feet before issuing an emergency passport to the fugitive during his two-week detention

Zach Shahin arrives back in the UAE on Sunday September 2, 2012. The former Deyaar chief executive fled to Yemen after skipping his Dh4.7 million bail.

DUBAI // The American embassy in Sanaa "dropped the ball" in the Zack Shahin case, a member of his US legal team says.

James Jatras, a Washington lobbyist and member of Zack Shahin's five-man US legal team, told The National the American embassy in Sanaa dragged its feet before issuing an emergency passport to the fugitive during his two-week detention in Yemen.

"It ended up being a tooth-pulling exercise in Yemen," said Mr Jatras. "They claimed that it would take a few weeks to issue an emergency passport, forcing me to send them copies of the State Department's regulations to show them that we understand it does not."

Shahin, 52, the former Deyaar chief executive facing multiple fraud charges worth over Dh300 million, fled to Yemen a few days after being granted bail by the Dubai Criminal Court in July.

According to court records he has been held in detention in Dubai since March 23, 2008. He began a hunger strike on May 14, after employing the services of American public relations firm Global Strategic Solutions to run a PR and lobbying campaign.

Mr Jatras said it was a deliberate decision by Shahin's US legal team to target the US government.

"We are not faulting the UAE or Dubai in this situation," he said. "But if they have evidence then bring it out to court."

The Yemeni Political Security Organisation (PSO), which detained Shahin in Yemen, told Mr Jatras no request was made by the US Embassy to release him.

"The PSO were not hearing from the American Embassy at all," he said. Mr Jatras questioned the US government's stance in the situation.

"Where is our government?" he asked. "Since his first arrest we understand private communications between the US and UAE have taken place but nothing has come out," he said.

"Until our government speaks publicly nothing will happen."

Earlier this year, the legal team's lobbying campaign succeeded spurring a senior US envoy to urge authorities for his release.

After visiting Shahin in June, L Victor Hurtado, chargé d'affaires at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, said publicly that he had worries about the prisoner's health since he began a hunger strike in May.

"After more than six weeks, obviously there are serious concerns," said Mr Hurtado. "We continue to urge the authorities to release him on bail, as has been approved but not carried out in the past.

"In addition, we urge that the several outstanding pending cases against Mr Shahin be consolidated."

Less than a week after the statement, Shahin was released on bail. Soon after, he made a run for Yemen.

His US legal team said they lost contact with him for two weeks.

"The information we received stated he was attacked in his hotel room by two men," he added. "We were told two men with hotel key cards came into his room, physically assaulted him and threatened to kill him if he filed a complaint to police or attempted to seek refuge at the US consulate.

During a visit with Judge Omar Atiq, Mr Jatras said they discussed Shahin's current case status.

"We were told he would not be facing charges for skipping bail, however he may face charges for leaving the country illegally at the immigration court," he said.

* With reporting by Salam Al Amir