Statement from the Office of the Attorney General of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Ras Al Khaiamah, UAE: 28 February 2017:  Seeking to actively enforce its pivotal role in the eradication of corruption hotbeds, over the last two years the Department of Public Prosecution initiated investigations into a number of offenses of fraud committed against public funds, and misfeasance in public office, in addition to other related crimes. The investigations follow legal complaints filed against Dr Khater Massaad, Karam Al Sadeq, and others accusing them of fraud, willful damage to Public Entities and unjust enrichment therefrom, which took place during their tenure as public officials with the Government of Ras Al Khaimah. Pursuant to that the Department of Public Prosecution ordered the arrest and detention of those accused who had absconded and undertook legal measures against those outside UAE jurisdiction so that they can be brought back through legal means to be tried in the UAE for the crimes which they had committed. The accused were committed to stand trial and final judgments have been given against some, whilst others have been convicted in their absence. 

The Attorney General has tasked the Public Funds section of the Department of Public Prosecution to undertake a broad investigation into the tenure of the accused as public officials, and as a result the investigation has yielded new evidence implicating the aforementioned accused and others in the commission of other offences abusing the positions they held to defraud the public purse. Amongst those involved were previous business partners of the accused in ventures which were based in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and elsewhere, including nationals of the USA and other countries. The Department of Public Prosecution will not spare any effort in ensuring that the accused are brought to justice using all available legal means to ensure they appear before the Courts of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. 

The Department of Public Prosecution wishes to emphasize that it will strenuously pursue all those who are involved in the commission of the aforementioned offences, and ensure that they face just punishment for what they have done in accordance with the international standards of justice and impartiality that reinforce the principles of justice and the rule of law.