Al Boom's lawyers ask court to refer case to judicial committee

Dubai: Lawyers of Emirati businessmen Abed Al Boom have asked the Dubai Misdemeanour Court's special tribunal to refer the Dh900-million graft case to the special judicial committee.

Advocates Hassan Juma Al Raisi and Ali Al Falasi on Monday argued before the special tribunal presided over by Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout: "We ask the court to refer the case to the special judicial committee which was established by Dubai's Ruler His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on August 4, 2009, for jurisdictional purposes. Dubai Public Prosecution (DPP) issued an arraignment sheet [accusing Al Boom of defrauding and swindling more than 3,850 investors out of more than Dh900 million].

"The arraignment sheet is void and baseless because this special tribunal does not have the jurisdictional power to look into this case. And if it continues to look into this case that would be a clear violation of the decree."

Al Raisi and Al Falasi countered in courtroom nine DPP's claim that the arraignment sheet was processed on June 4, 2009.

Claim

"That claim is untrue. The arraignment sheet was issued and the case was referred to court on August 5. Your honour, you yourself started overlooking the case on August 23, 2009. how can the DPP's claim be true and we have DPP documents proving that prosecutors continually extended Al Boom's provisional detention between June and August. Today we submit these documents to court. We ask the court to dismiss all the accusations against out client and pronounce his innocence," said Al Boom's advocates. Presiding Judge Barghout adjourned the case until December 19 and asked DPP to look into the documents submitted in yesterday's hearing and respond to that.

"The court will also check with the special judicial committee on whether the suspect [Al Boom] deposited any financial guarantee in its treasury for the claimants' accounts. The suspect remains in custody," concluded Presiding Judge Barghout.

Al Boom earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of running a bogus investment portfolio, breach of trust, defrauding and swindling 3,850 investors out of more than Dh900 million.

His seven alleged associates including his brother, K.B., another Emirati, A.S., an Egyptian, M.I., a Malawian, M.M. and three Somali women also denied aiding and abetting Al Boom.