Deyaar's prosecution accused of 'calculation errors'

Defence lawyers acting on behalf of nine defendants in the Deyaar corruption case call for an investigation into the findings of the main prosecution witness.

DUBAI // Defence lawyers acting on behalf of nine defendants in the Deyaar corruption case today called for an investigation into the findings of the main prosecution witness. Mohammed Mustafa Hussain, was appointed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, to investigate corruption at Deyaar. He has been the main driving force behind the case against the defendants, including the former chief executive ZS. Dubai Criminal Court has heard the former chief executive and the other defendants are alleged to have worked together to facilitate illegal practices that created a loss of Dh132 million to Deyaar.

"We respectfully ask for an independent auditor from the Ministry of Finance be assigned to look into the findings of Mr. Hussain," one defence attorney said in court. "There is no proof that he is qualified to conduct this investigation and the court should not take his claims to be the claims of an expert." The defence lawyers said there were "calculations errors" in the report Mr Mustafa compiled for the court. One told the court. "For example on page 12, there is an error regarding a Turkish investment. Instead of the figure being US$470,000, the report states that the figure was written as US$47,000." Mr Mustafa did not comment on the lawyers' claims. *The National