Former head of DIFC questioned by state security

The clock's been ticking on this one since Dr bin Sulaiman's rapid departure from the DIFC in November.
Source: Gulf News 25 March 2010
Photo: Foto search Stock
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The Public Funds Prosecution is interrogating the former governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman for alleged violations that took place during his tenure.
Gulf News yesterday reported the detention and interrogation of Bin Sulaiman for alleged abuse of public office.
The suspect had been detained since Thursday and is being questioned over preliminary charges of abusing public service.
The investigation is based on a report by the Financial Control Department of the Dubai Ruler's Court, which confirmed that such violations took place during the tenure of Bin Sulaiman and accused him of abusing his position in appropriating public funds.
The Public Prosecution decided to detain him during the investigation, which is being carried out by prosecutor Salem Bin Khadem under the supervision of Esmail Madani, head of the Public Funds Prosecution.
Justice
Investigations indicated that Bin Sulaiman had given himself annual performance bonuses which amounted to Dh50 million.
WAM quoted Essam Eisa Al Humaidan, Attorney General of Dubai, as saying that the Government of Dubai is keen to implement justice without leniency against anyone convicted in this case. Al Humaidan said the investigation of Bin Sulaiman comes within the framework of complete transparency and the effort to combat administrative corruption and to protect public funds and public office integrity.
He stressed that the step came after reports by control authorities supported by documents confirmed the abuse of power by the former DIFC governor to seize public funds without legal justification.
Al Humaidan said the Dubai Public Prosecution will refer a number of similar cases in the coming period, WAM reported.
Corruption cases
A number of high-profile corruption cases have gone to court with the Dubai Court of Cassation handing irrevocable imprisonment and a fine of millions of dirhams to two former Nakheel executives.
The same court handed a similar jail term and fine of about Dh14 million to an Emirati former executive of Dubai Industrial City.
The Cassation Court will issue its ruling against five officials involved in the same graft case.
The Appeals Court and the Court of First Instance are looking into ten cases of corruption involving more than a dozen officials of companies such as Deyaar, Tamweel, Waterfront, Nakheel, Mizin and Dubai Islamic Bank.
Some have been sentenced and others are being questioned in court. Gulf News has learnt that Deyaar's former CEO could be facing a fifth case.