David Haigh, the jailed former managing director of Leeds United Football Club, has strengthened his legal team with the appointment of two QCs in addition to his retained lawyers, Stephenson Harwood.
Haigh has been detained in a Dubai prison for seven months without any criminal charge following allegations made by his former employers, GFH Capital.
Alun Jones QC, a leading international human rights barrister from Great James Street Chambers in London joins the team, along with Zafar Ali QC in order to ensure Haigh’s urgent release from custody, a statement said.
Ali and his junior, Ryan Hawthorne, will act for Haigh in proceedings in the Dubai International Finance Centre Courts while Alun Jones will act on Haigh’s behalf with regards to his human rights action, which was recently lodged in the High Court in London, alleging deceit against GFH Capital for their actions in luring him to Dubai and causing his wrongful imprisonment without trial or charge.
On May 18, Haigh was arrested when he flew into Dubai following an invitation from GFH Capital and its directors Hisham Al Reyes and Jinesh Patel to attend a meeting to discuss outstanding payments owed to him as well as a potential new job offer with the Gulf-based Islamic investment bank.
Instead, Haigh was arrested by Dubai police after allegations made by GFH Capital claimed that he had stolen £3 million by way of fake invoices. Since then he has been held in custody without questioning or charge and with only limited access to lawyers.
The statement said Haigh’s defence and counterclaim will demonstrate that the invoices GFH Capital claim were created by him were forgeries.
It added that Haigh is also ready to file civil claims for the monies owed to him by GFH Capital. They comprise of salaries, expenses and commission and are in excess of the amount GFH Capital claims he owes them.
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