Ex-Leeds United chief David Haigh will face embezzlement and breach of trust charges in Dubai after his case was escalated by the Dubai prosecutor to the Dubai criminal courts last week.
Haigh may have to represent himself in the criminal proceedings after Stephenson Harwood, Olswang and local firm Nasser Malalla came off the record in May following a decision by the DIFC not to unfreeze funds.
Haigh’s former employers GFH Capital successfully instructed Gibson Dunn & Crutcher to obtain a worldwide freezing order against Haigh last year, following its claims he falsified £3m of invoices in connection with the sale of Leeds United (1 April 2015). Haigh was general counsel for the company, which bought Leeds United in 2012 before selling a majority stake last year.
The news comes as Alun Jones QC – Haigh’s sole remaining counsel – represents Haigh in civil proceedings brought against GFH, which continue in Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court today (10 June).
Haigh launched proceedings in April accusing two GFH heads, Hisham Al Rayes and Jinesh Patel, and ex-Gibson Dunn partner Peter Gray of engaging in human trafficking to lure him to Dubai where he was jailed (1 April 2015). Dubai-based Gray acted for GFH at the time in its litigation and criminal complaint against Haigh for the alleged fraud.
Haigh has been in prison in Dubai since May 2014 (22 May 2014).
He was previously represented by Stephenson Harwood Dubai managing partner Rovine Chandrasekera and Olswang partner Bernard O’Sullivan.
Al Rayes and Patel will be represented by Bryan Cave partner Robert Dougans, who has instructed Matrix Chambers’ Andrew Bodnar.
Gray has retained Peters & Peters partner Michael O’Kane.
Stephenson Harwood spent more than £1m representing Haigh. The Dubai International Financial Centre court judgment revealed Haigh’s counsel was also owed £100,000 and expert witnesses £20,000.
Haigh was arrested on 18 May 2014 when GFH accused him of committing fraud, embezzlement and money laundering when he was employed by the Bahrain-based bank.
Prior to his time at GFH and Leeds United, Haigh worked as in-house counsel at Barclays and in private practice at Thomas Eggar, DLA Piper, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Gray was let go by Gibson Dunn following news that he knowingly submitted falsified evidence to the High Court in a case between the Republic of Djibouti and one of its citizens, Abdourahman Boreh (23 March 2015).
He is awaiting a Court of Appeal decision on whether he will be allowed to apply to appeal Mr Justice Flaux’s ruling.