Judge extends provisional detention of former Deyaar official

Dubai: The Dubai Public Prosecution has not yet presented evidence to indict Zack Shahin of reportedly committing financial irregularities when he was Deyaar's chief executive, Gulf News learnt on Tuesday.

Sources close to the investigation told the newspaper that the public prosecution has not presented enough evidence to charge Shahin with breach of trust or misappropriation of funds.

When asked by Gulf News about the investigation up to this point, Assistant Chief Prosecutor Khalid Al Zarouni, who heads the interrogations, said: "No one gets detained without accusation. However, I cannot reveal any details about the ongoing investigations to maintain its confidentiality."

Judge Abdullah Abu Zaid of Dubai Courts extended the provisional detention of Shahin to 30 days during yesterday's hearing.

Connection

On March 23, Shahin was arrested in connection with alleged financial irregularities at Deyaar, a Dubai property developer.

J.M., an Argentine of Syrian origin, became the fourth person to be detained in connection with financial irregularities at Deyaar.

He was arrested about one week ago, said Public Prosecution sources.

A third suspect, a 38-year-old Lebanese sales manager, identified as C.B.H. was arrested for his alleged connection to the case a few days ago.

Last week, police arrested a 49-year-old Indian manager, J.K.K., in connection with the case.

A Deyaar statement said earlier that Shahin subsequently resigned.

Apparently, Shahin has been moved out of Bur Dubai Police Station and each of the suspects is being held at a different detention centre.

Sources said the investigation continues and more arrests are likely.

"We will wait for investigations to conclude and finalise the financial reports to see if the suspects should be charged or not," Essam Eisa Al Humaidan, Dubai's Attorney General, told Gulf News earlier.