Embezzler deported to UAE from Lebanon

Lebanon yesterday extradited to the UAE a man charged with embezzling $240 million. Authorities in the UAE confirmed that the "suspect has arrived in the emirates and he will be referred to the court shortly".

The man holds dual Canadian and British citizenship.

Responding to an official request by the UAE government, Lebanese State Prosecutor Adnan Addoum forwarded a memorandum to Justice Minister Samir Jisr and the Cabinet recommended the deportation of Hamdi Najeeb, 60, who served as financial advisor to his UAE employer.

Judicial authorities told Gulf News that Najeeb's case met the requirements of deportation "since he does not hold Lebanese citizenship and his crimes were not committed in Lebanon".

Najeeb allegedly pocketed the money with which he was entrusted to repay his employer's bank loans, but failed to do so. He is allegedly being pursued by Britain for similar fraud committed there.