The head of an influential Middle East forum in Britain has had legal proceedings against her dropped by a millionaire Conservative Party donor.
Charlotte Leslie, a former Conservative MP, will no longer face a court action by Mohamed Amersi after he withdrew a data protection claim when she raised concerns about his background.
Mr Amersi, who has donated £1.2 million ($1.58m) to the Conservative Party, brought the claim against Ms Leslie following a dispute over a memorandum she compiled on him in her role as director of the prominent Conservative Middle East Council.
Mr Amersi, who has been linked to business deals with Russia, had been expected to give evidence at the High Court trial set to commence next week.
But he told The National that “in the current circumstances” it would be “disproportionate” to continue both the data protection case as well as a potential defamation action.
The entrepreneur has been accused in parliament of using the legal system to “bully” Ms Leslie and could still commence the defamation action. He categorically denies the bullying allegation.
His case stems from a memorandum written by Ms Leslie after she went online and examined his background, business dealings and family and then sent it to a handful of senior figures, including politicians, diplomats and national security figures.
The memorandum was compiled after Mr Amersi set up Conservative Friends of the Middle East and North Africa (Comena), regarded as a potential rival to CMEC.
Mr Amersi claims that during a dinner with Boris Johnson before he became prime minister, it was agreed that he should begin a new Conservative group to develop regional connections.
Ms Leslie passed her document to Ben Elliot, the Conservative Party chairman, in January of last year. Mr Amersi became aware of the memo and stated she was attempting to damage his reputation. Ms Leslie strongly denied the allegation, saying she acted in the public interest.
The businessman had alleged that Ms Leslie’s information was attempting to undermine his attempt to set up Comena. He made a subject access data request demanding all documentation relating to him and then proceeded with legal action in the belief Ms Leslie had not responded in full.
Mr Amersi’s lawyers wrote to the CMEC director stating she had to apologise, withdraw her memo and promise not to interfere with his plans for setting up Comena.
The very top of the British establishment has also been dragged into the controversy, with Prince Charles, who had entertained Mr Amersi, drawn into questions over party funding, along with former prime minister Theresa May.
The Financial Times has previously reported that Mr Amersi, who is also a philanthropist, made $4m from a deal in 2005 with a Russian telecoms group controlled by a minister in President Vladimir Putin’s government. Mr Amersi said he was unaware the minister owned the company.
In a statement to The National he said his intention behind legal proceedings had been to “assess the damage done to my reputation by the circulation of inaccurate information about me” to have it corrected and “to restore my good name and to receive a full apology”.
He added that “in the current climate” it would be “disproportionate” to continue both the data protection and potential defamation case.
“My legal team will therefore focus on taking forward the libel proceedings, during which I will receive the information I have previously requested,” he said. “Like any private citizen, I have a right to defend my reputation when it has been attacked unfairly.”
Ms Leslie has previously described the judicial process as a “legal sledgehammer” used by British lawyers against her.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
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