DUBAI 18 February 2020: In reference to the press statement issued by Khaldoun Tabari on February 5, Drake and Scull International (DSI) would like to refute Tabari’s claims that the allegations against him are “unwarranted commercial claims and not criminal complaints.”
His press statement lacks credibility and is not supported by evidence, said DSI.
“The company has previously confirmed the accuracy of the news published by several media outlets regarding Mr. Tabari’s arrest by Jordanian authorities following an Interpol red notice, the result of an international arrest warrant filed by Abu Dhabi authorities on December 25, 2019.
“As a result, the General Directorate of Federal Crime Security (International Criminal Cooperation Department) addressed a letter on January 5, 2020 to the Director of the Wanted and Criminal Records Department, declaring that Mr. Tabari was wanted by UAE authorities for the charges of misappropriation, fraud, embezzlement, intentional damage to public funds, profiteering and forgery.
“On January 8, 2020 Mr. Khaldoun Tabari was arrested at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman as he was catching a flight to London, and subsequently was transferred in handcuffs to the Criminal Court Judge in Amman following an Interpol red notice. In that notice, Interpol informed the judge that Khaldoun Tabari was wanted by the United Arab Emirates on charges of misappropriation, fraud, embezzlement, intentional damage to public funds, profiteering and forgery. As a result, he was banned from travelling and surrendered his passport.
“A criminal case was registered against him by the public prosecutor under reference no. (5-3-799/2020 Public Records), and it is currently under review by the criminal court under the label of “Arrest of an accused fugitive”. Furthermore, he has another criminal case registered under reference no. (5-3-14252/2019 Public Records) and currently under review by the criminal court labeled under “bounced cheque against no balance”.
“Furthermore, the competent judicial authorities in the United Arab Emirates are coordinating with relevant judicial authorities in Jordan to extradite Mr. Khaldoun Tabari and try him before the UAE justice system.
As for Mr. Tabari’s claims of innocence and insistence that he can refute all charges against him through documents in his possession, the company invites him to present any evidence he has and welcomes the opportunity to face him in UAE court.
Moreover, we highlight that Khaldoun Tabari and his daughter Zeina Tabari were not absolved by the Annual General Assembly of the company, held in April of 2018.
We would like to point out that the UAE authorities issued a travel ban against Mr. Tabari on May 31, 2018, and the Central Bank issued a circular to seize his and his wife’s UAE bank accounts following the Public Fund Prosecutor’s order on June 4, 2018. Furthermore, all properties registered in the UAE under Mr. Tabari and his wife Mrs. Rula Khartabeel were also seized.
Secondly, further criminal complaints were filed against Mr. Tabari and his daughter Mrs. Zeina Tabari in Jordan, filed under case no. 9994/2019, resulted in the following criminal charges:
A felony for committing fraud in the business of selling, buying, or managing movable or immovable property for the state or for a public administration account in relation to the defendant Khaldoun Tabari,
A felony for committing a fraud in the business of selling, buying, or managing movable or immovable money for the state’s account or for a management account Generally, for the defendant Zeina Tabari,
The misdemeanor of abuse of trust for the defendant Khaldoun Tabari,
The misdemeanor of interference to abuse trust for the defendant Zeina Tabari. A criminal ruling was also issued against Zeina Tabari in Dubai under case No. 9260/2018 dated October 15, 2018 for presenting a cheque with no balance, and was sentenced to 4 months in prison.
Lastly, we would like to unequivocally refute Tabari’s claims that the current management of the company is “employing (unethical intimidation tactics) aimed at family members, former associates and friends”. The company would like to confirm that all previously issued press statements are true and supported by evidence and documents, and not hearsay. The company filed criminal complaints against Mr. Tabari, his daughter Zeina, some of his family members, relatives and former board members.
It is the company’s duty to protect the rights of the shareholders who trusted it and invested in it. Drake and Scull International will pursue everyone who was involved and is proven guilty of jeopardizing in any manner the best interests of the shareholders and undermining their trust in the Company. The Board of Directors is working diligently to restore the shareholders’ rights and put the company back on track.
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