Dubai: Three Iranian men have been arrested by state security in Dubai in relation to the kidnapping of a British businessman of Iranian origin, a top security official said.

Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security, said on Thursday that the three Iranians are suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of businessman and CEO of Echelon Trading Company Abbas Yazdanpanah Yazdi, 45, a father of two.

Reported missing

Yazdi’s wife reported her husband missing in late June last year. Atena Yazdi, 37, earlier told Gulf News that she believes her husband was abducted by Iranian agents after he left his office in Bur Dubai last June 25.

She said that the British government is following up on the kidnapping of her husband and that the UAE authorities are “still following up” with his case and were hopeful he was still alive. Atena said she was waiting for further information about her husband.
Lieutenant General Tamim said state security officers were able to identify the three men and identify the way the kidnappers used to abduct their victims.

The three suspects are being questioned by the public prosecution in order to determine the whereabouts of the victim.

Belongings found

Evidence, said authorities, has allegedly confirmed the relationship between the three suspects and the disappearance of Yazdi. Police said they found Yazdi’s belongings in an apartment rented by the kidnappers in Dubai.

Lieutenant General Tamim said that the suspects were trying to get rid of some of the belongings and documents related to the victim. “The wanted to enjoy their success, but they got arrested by police,” he said.

In August of last year, it was reported that Yazdi was found dead in Fujairah but the news was denied by police.

According to a report, Yazdi disappeared after giving evidence via video conference to an international court in The Hague on the National Iranian Oil Company’s 2009 cancellation of a contract with the UAE’s Crescent Petroleum. He was due to return to finish giving his evidence the following day.