Dubai: The former owner of a Dubai special needs school, accused of stealing their funds, is in jail in Dubai after an Interpol arrest, Gulf News has learnt.
Christopher Reynolds went missing after it was alleged he stole hundreds of thousands from the British Institute for Learning Development in Al Safa, Dubai, forcing it to close leaving parents and children stranded at the school gates.
It was understood Reynolds, who is subject to divorce proceedings at a Sharjah court, had left the country for Australia amid the accusations last month.
But Dubai Police have confirmed he entered Oman illegally and has since been brought back to Dubai after an Interpol arrest warrant was issued against him over the alleged theft.
Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Dubai Police Chief, told Gulf News that Dubai Police’s Interpol Department, in co-operation with the Abu Dhabi National Central Office for the General Department of Criminal Security, tracked him down.
He is now detained in a Dubai jail.
As schools returned in September, parents of special needs children studying at the British Institute for Learning Development were shocked to find the gates closed and a note pinned to the gates claiming Reynolds had fled with school funds.
Police received complains from parents regarding the incident, which saw the school closed until it was thrown a lifeline.
Major General Al Mazeina, said: “Police received a number of complains from people against the absconded accused.
“The Interpol department at Dubai police followed up the case in order to bring him back here to take the required legal action against him.”
Major General Al Mazeina added that the police search operation covered all of the UAE and other neighbouring countries.
Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the Dubai Police Criminal and Investigation Department, said the Dubai Police Interpol investigation revealed the accused ran to neighbouring country Oman.
“Our Interpol police worked on bringing back the accused to Dubai,” said Brig Al Mansouri.
Colonel Salem Khalifa Al Rumathi, Deputy Director of the Criminal and Investigation Department for Search and Investigation at Dubai Police said an international team was formed to hunt for the accused.
Reynolds was brought back last week and is in now in jail while his case is being transferred to the public prosecutor for investigation.
“Our team worked with Interpol who immediately issued an arrest warrant against him,” said Colonel Al Rumathi.
Reynolds has police cases against him in Dubai, while Sharjah court issued an arrest warrant against him for unpaid maintenance in a divorce case.
A lifeline was offered to the 53 pupils of the special needs school after Dubai Education agreed to assume control of its operations and re-open the school on September 9.
Dubai Education, the parent company of the Canadian University of Dubai, said in a statement that the school would be provided with all necessary resources and support to allow pupils to return to their normal routine.
