Three men have been arrested in Dubai on suspicion of kidnapping a British businessman.
Abbas Yazasanpanah Yazdi, of Iranian origin, owns a public trade company based in Bur Dubai, and has been missing since June 25.
Security officers in the UAE identified the suspects and have now made arrests, the Dubai government said on Thursday.
Mr Yazdi’s belongings have been found in a house rented by one of the suspects, believed to be the gang’s leader, said police.
The authorities are still trying to find Mr Yazdi, reported the state news agency Wam.
The three arrested men were about to dispose of his belongings and documents, said Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chairman of police and general security in Dubai.
He called the arrest operation “well controlled”.
Relatives and friends believed Mr Yazdi, a 44-year-old father of two, was taken from the UAE to Iran.
A London-based Iranian opposition figure said that he believed Mr Yazdi had been kidnapped to gather evidence against Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was arrested after being accused of inciting unrest after the re-election in 2009 of the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ali Reza Nourizadeh also said he thought Mr Yazdi had been taken while on his way to Fujairah for what he thought was a business meeting.
"Allegations that elements in Iran might be responsible for Mr Yazdi's disappearance are plausible, and we are taking them very seriously," a UK government source said last year.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
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- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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