AgustaWestland case: Wanted by India, Briton appeals against extradition order in Dubai court

Dubai: A British citizen has challenged a court’s decision to extradite him to India, where he is wanted for his alleged role in a multi-million dollar helicopter purchase deal, Gulf News learnt on Monday.

Last month, the Dubai Appeal Court approved a request by Indian authorities to extradite 54-year-old Christian James Michel, a British businessman, although he had pleaded not guilty and refuted charges of commercial fraud, bribery and money laundering levelled against him in the extradition papers.

“The extradition request was approved by the Appeal Court on September 2, and since then he had 30 days legal period to challenge the decision. The British defendant, who was apprehended later, appealed the decision to extradite him before the Dubai Cassation Court on Monday. He remains in custody until a hearing is scheduled before the Cassation Court,” a chief court judge told Gulf News.

On September 2, presiding judge Eisa Al Sharif of the Dubai Appeal Court approved the extradition request after deciding that it is permissible to do so based on the Criminal Extradition Accord signed between the UAE and India.

Michel, who was out on bail, was apprehended by law enforcement officers shortly after the ruling.

In February 2017, Indian authorities lodged an extradition request for Michel. He was subsequently arrested by Dubai Police and handed over to the Dubai Public Prosecution.

The Indian government wants his custody in connection with a case dubbed by the Indian media as ‘AgustaWestland helicopter bribery case’ involving the purchase of 12 helicopters worth around $638 million (Dh2.34 billion). Indian authorities have named Michel as an alleged middleman who routed bribes allegedly paid by Anglo-Italian company AgustaWestland to politicians and officials in 2010.

The case first came up for hearing in the Dubai court in July. Michel pleaded not guilty and refuted the accusations against him when questioned by Dubai prosecutors.

He is also believed to have argued before Dubai prosecutors that he was previously questioned over the same charges concerning a dodgy helicopters deal by Italian judicial authorities who acquitted him.

As reported previously in Gulf News, Michel had told Dubai prosecutors that the same case (involving the same charges) was dismissed against him by Italian prosecutors.

As part of the Criminal Procedures Law, the extradition request was referred to the appellate court where Michel again pleaded not guilty.

The Briton and his lawyer asked the court to reject the extradition request claiming that it was filed based on political motives.

Michel contended that he had been previously acquitted of all the alleged accusations mentioned in the extradition request and asked the bench of judges to dismiss the request due to time lapse.

The suspect and his lawyer also asked the appellate court to dismiss the request citing unusual conditions and lack of guarantees that he would be treated justly and humanely.

The appellate court studied the papers and documents submitted by Michel and his legal team and decided that they were insufficient to reject the extradition request.