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Says he has witnessed suicides and rape by inmates and been forced to drink from communal toilet. Albert Douglas, 60, from London described being tortured in Dubai Central Prison Mr Douglas says he is innocent and was denied his heart medication for months He described the abuse of the guards and seeing other prisoners take their lives in front of him A 60-year-old British man detained in Dubai Central Prison over his son's business debts has described being tortured and witnessing the horrific treatment of other prisoners, some of who were raped. He also described seeing other incarcerated people take their own lives in front of him. Albert Douglas, originally from London, has fought a £1m legal battle to prove he was not liable for money owed by his son Wolfgang's business. In a tape heard by MailOnline, Mr Douglas said: 'Since I've been in prison in UAE I've been beaten and tortured by the police for asking for my heart medicine. 'My left shoulder's dislocated, I've three bones broken in my right arm and I've got permanent head and back injuries. 'I'd spent two days traveling through the desert in the back of a van. 'I've been forced to drink from a communal toilet basin. For five months I've been deprived of my heart medicine and any medical treatment for injuries.' Mr Douglas also spoke of witnessing the systematic abuse of 'African and Asian people simply because of the colour of their skin' in the prison. The once prosperous man who once lived in luxurious villa on the Palm Jumeriah Island and drove a Rolls Royce, says his only 'crime' had been to be listed on legal documents of the flooring company his son had set up in 2007. Under Dubai law anyone linked to a company that owes money can be found liable for their debts - and family members are often pursued for payments. In the tape he said he was detained earlier this year because authorities appear to think he signed a cheque to Abu Dhabi Finance, which Mr Douglas says he didn't write and claims forensic investigators have already proven the signature to not be his. Because his son Wolfgang, 34, was back in Britain when the company got into trouble, creditors took Mr Douglas to court and won a judgement against him instead. He was arrested in September 2019. A court found him liable for his son's debts and imposed a three-year sentence. Mr Douglas was also ordered to pay £2.5m in fines. He was sentence to two years but will is now set to face another three years in the prison. He said: 'Several hours of interrogation, police trying to force me to confess to signing a cheque to Abu Dhabi Finance. 'It's all in Arabic, I've no idea what's going on and this is despite their own forensic experts verifying it wasn't my signature so they known it wasn't me. 'I was told by the public prosecution to just say I signed the cheque, otherwise they said I'll stay there for a very long time, which I did.' When Mr Douglas was finally granted surgery to his left shoulder, which took nine months to get, he said he was 'forced to do what's called a promotional video' while surrounded by police. 'I had to say how well I was being treated by Dubai police,' he added. While he previously led a life of luxury, Mr Douglas says he has now lost everything. Mr Douglas and his wife Naomi emigrated to Dubai in 2003 and he built up a successful business called Alomni Flooring, specialising in real wood floors. During the massive property boom in the United Arab Emirates, as hotels and holiday homes transformed the country into a top tourist destination, his company thrived. The father of four lived a luxury lifestyle and persuaded his eldest son Wolfgang to move to Dubai from his home in London. Wolfgang started the company TimberWolf and his father was one of the signatories on the business. The business relationship ended in 2018 when Albert gave up any involvement. 'I lost everything, the lot's gone,' he said. 'Bank accounts, frozen. Stock, gone. Warehouse, ransacked.' He urged MPs to hear his pleas to do something about his dire situation and other British people facing horrific conditions in jail in UAE. He said: 'I just don't want other people to end up in the same situation. Just do something, try. Not just for my sake. 'People haven't got a chance. They have crimes and they need people to be held and found guilty for those crimes to say all crimes have been solved.' Baroness Janet Whitaker and Andy Slaughter, MP released a letter requesting the urgent diplomatic assistance Dominic Raab. They have asked him to speak with his counterpart in the UAE to bring Mr Douglas home. Radha Stirling, a human rights lawyer and the CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: ' British courts refuse to extradite to the UAE based on the "real risk of human rights violations and torture", and yet the British government has failed to warn citizens on the FCO travel advisory website. 'Moreover, business, trade, commerce, security, arts and education projects are actively promoted by the British government. It beggars belief. 'In the 13.5 years of operating Detained in Dubai, I have come to know dozens of UAE torture victims. 'Torture is so unfortunately common, that we are producing an in depth report on the issue. 'It is not acceptable that since the death of Lee Bradley Brown in police custody, the UK government has not issued more severe warnings or demanded better treatment of citizens. 'Albert Douglas, who remains in prison, joins Matthew Hedges, Lee Bradley Brown, Artur Ligeska, Karam Al Sadeq and Princess Latifa in his complaints of brutality. 'The UK must act swiftly to bring Albert Douglas home and take affirmative steps to ensure the safety of British nationals abroad. 'This must include increased travel warnings. The UAE should not be able to market themselves as a modern expat and tourist destination in our media, without ramifications for the abuse of citizens they have deceived into visiting. 'If we do not confront these ongoing issues, we will see further abuses and the loss of life.' A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are supporting a British man following his arrest in the UAE, have raised his case with authorities in the country and are in contact with his family in the UK. 'We take all allegations of torture or mistreatment seriously. We have raised the allegations with the UAE authorities and requested that they are investigated.' ELMIRA TANATAROVA FOR MAILONLINE - PUBLISHED: 14:28, 12 November 2021

British grandfather jailed in Dubai for crimes he claims he didn’t commit

Says he has witnessed suicides and rape by inmates and been forced to drink from communal toilet. Albert Douglas, 60, from London...

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Podcast with Social Catfish and Radha Stirling reveals Dubai scams. Scammers have become aware that stories of injustice, wrongful detentions and corruption in Dubai is a consistent narrative in the media and have used this to their advantage, to exploit kind and often vulnerable people. Watch how Social Catfish & Detained in Dubai saved this woman's house: Since Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling ’s podcast with Social Catfish, the organisation has been approached by another six romance scam victims. Stirling estimates there are hundreds, if not thousands, of victims every month. “We know people who have lost their life savings, their properties or their last pennies. In total, we have recorded millions of dollars in losses across victims with one woman having lost a whole million. Detained in Dubai: The Scammer’s Gold Mine — People Search — Socialcatfish.com “Some of the perpetrators are living in the UAE while others are in Africa, Europe and Asia. They are operating brazenly, sharing local Dubai bank accounts. When reported to the police, local authorities didn’t seem to want to take up the cases, making us suspicious that they may be part of these complex operations. We’ve seen the scammers impersonate the Crown Prince while others have impersonated American and British military men. Women have claimed to be leaving Africa to visit their new ‘fiancé’ when they are detained en route in Dubai. The scammers often provide forged bank accounts, forged loan agreements, forged customs and police letters, lawyers letters and more. They try to be as convincing as possible and their need is urgent. Their ‘friend’ feels under immense pressure to save them from Dubai’s dungeons, because they care. We have seen hundreds of these over the years and easily identify them. Beware of money requests for lawyers from Dubai. Scams using a Dubai Jail format “We are working with a victim on a professional investigation and hope to bring some of these fraudsters to justice. Scottish woman exposes “Prince Hamdan” Dubai scam Social Catfish intervene where a family member may become suspicious and they seek to stop the victim from sending money before it’s too late. “Unfortunately, social media and online relationships have made it all too easy for the underworld to operate”, added Stirling. If you suspect someone has been detained, contact Detained in Dubai to investigate before sending any money or bitcoin.

Detained in Dubai - A Scammers Paradise - Millions Lost to Romance Scams

Podcast with Social Catfish and Radha Stirling reveals Dubai scams. Scammers have become aware that stories of injustice, wrongful...

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AN INNOCENT British grandad has revealed the horrors from inside a hellhole prison in the UAE where he is trapped for a crime he claims he didn't commit. Speaking from his cell in Dubai Central Prison, the 60-year-old Albert Douglas disclosed to The Sun Online how prisoners are raped, tortured and even starved by the cruel guards. Albert, originally from London, was detained earlier this year over a bounced cheque that he claims he did not write. And even though forensic tests proved the cheque was not his, the expat tycoon was hit by a string of other trumped-up charges. The grandad was initially sentenced to two years in prison but now faces another three years in the hellhole jail over the same "fraudulent" cheque. Dubai's prisons have been at the centre of controversy over the past number of years due to the horrific conditions prisoners are reported to have faced. But now The Sun Online has been given a first account of the horrors faced by inmates. Since being imprisoned, Albert claims to have witnessed cellmates raped for being gay and even saw one inmate attempt suicide The 60-year-old told his son about how twenty-year-old boys in his cell were hung upside down and beaten for "sport" and recalled how a great-grandad was just "skin and bone" after being starved for weeks. Guards at the Central prison are also alleged to have burnt off the private parts of a prisoner who was stationed in the bunk below Albert. Prisoners have also allegedly been subjected to inhumane conditions including drinking from a communal toilet. "During this time of incarnation, I've seen a man commit suicide and saw another one try to hang himself," Mr Douglas said in a voice recording released to The Sun Online by human rights organisation Detained in Dubai that is fighting Albert's case. "I've seen a gay man raped and seen the systematic abuse of African and Asian people based purely and simply because of the colour of their skin." Before his legal nightmare, Albert was a millionaire who drove a Rolls-Royce and lived in a luxury villa on the emirate's Jumeirah Island. He was first held over a bounced cheque allegedly linked to his son's failed flooring business. Albert was fined £2.5million, even though he had no role in the company, and was jailed for three years after losing an appeal. All of his assets were taken by the Government when he was jailed and the grandad has spent over £1million in the courts in a vain bid to clear his name. Dubai courts can also find family members and associates criminally liable for another person's debts. His family is urging the UK government to use diplomatic pressure to help free Albert from the hellhole jail. "For five months I've been deprived of my heart medicine and any medical treatment for my injuries Albert Douglas During his nine months of incarceration, Albert said he was given the duty to care for the 73-year-old British-Australian William Meyerhoff with who he shared a "filthy" cell. Meyerhoff was arrested in May during a stop-off on a flight to Australia for a bounced cheque he denies writing. "When I met him he looked like a Jewish Holocaust prisoner of war," Albert explained. "He was just skin and bones. He actually said to me one night: 'Let me die. I would be better off.'" As what he has endured, Albert said he was beaten and tortured by Dubai police for asking for his heart medicine and even had his shoulder dislocated from the brutal beatings. "For five months I've been deprived of my heart medicine and any medical treatment for my injuries," he said on Wednesday. "My left shoulder is dislocated. I've had three bones broken in my right arm and I've got back injuries." Albert, who has been in prison since February 16, shared a stark warning to others who hope to set up a glamorous new life in Dubai. "For all those businessmen that want to come over here and see towers and sparkling buildings be aware of what can happen to you. All that shines isn't gold - I assure you." Representing Mr Douglas, human rights lawyer Radha Stirling of Detained in Dubai said: "Albert Douglas was beaten by prison guards, denied his heart medication and was forced to suffer inhumane conditions, including drinking from a toilet. "He has been interrogated, threatened and suffered attempts to force him to confess to a crime he has not committed. "Albert has maintained that he is innocent throughout, refusing to submit to pressure while putting his life at risk." The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UAE Ministry for Foreign Affairs have been contacted for comment. #FreeAlbert #FreeAlbertDouglas Originally published in The Sun: Niamh Cavanagh 11 Nov 2021 https://www.albertdouglas.com/

MY PRISON HELL I’m trapped in hellhole Dubai jail for crime I didn’t commit

AN INNOCENT British grandad has revealed the horrors from inside a hellhole prison in the UAE where he is trapped for a crime he claims...

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Published December 27th, 2018 Al Bawaba Hayder al-Shakarchi Update: On 11th February the New York Times and others reported that a Thai court had dropped the extradiction case against Hakeem. The player is now free to return to Australia. Exactly one month ago, Hakeem Al-Araibi, a professional football player in Australia, was wrongfully detained in Thailand at the hands of Bahrain through an Interpol Red Notice. Once Bahrain had the Notice issued, Araibi was immediately arrested upon arrival at Thailand in Bangkok Airport while on vacation with his wife for their honeymoon. Since 2012, Araibi has been under constant threat from his homeland after he was arrested by Bahraini authorities due to the political activities of his brother during the Arab Spring protests. Like many others before him, Araibi stated that he was also subjected to torture during his time in jail in the country. After being released, Araibi immediately sought asylum in Australia. Australian immigration authorities understood that Araibi would face execution if sent back to Bahrain. Thus, Australia automatically ruled out any possibility of extradition and Araibi was officially granted political asylum in the country in 2014. Hence, the dilemma of the Bahraini refugee and his recent detainment has raised several significant questions regarding Interpol, as it has clearly backed numerous countries that have been documented for human rights abuse cases. Will Interpol continue to aid these countries in seeking ‘wanted’ individuals, even when abuse precludes the possibility of extradition in most countries? To what extent should these countries be allowed to utilize Interpol for their own agendas? Most importantly, what is Interpol’s agenda? Radha Stirling, an international extradition expert and CEO of Detained in Dubai, commented that “in 2015, Interpol announced that they would not consider any listing request pertaining to an asylum seeker or refugee requested by the country from which they had fled. Thus, Bahrain’s request for a Red Notice against Araibi should have been initially rejected. It is Interpol’s responsibility to ensure that their rules are adhered to, especially regarding Red and Blue Notices. Araibi is a refugee who was granted asylum by Australia. According to Interpol’s internal protocols, he should have been immune from a Red Notice request by Bahrain.” Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates constantly misuse Interpol as a means for debt collection, even though private financial disputes fall beyond Interpol’s mandate. Gulf countries use the threat of a Red Notice to extort debtors often, even when they have been making payments or negotiating with creditors. The GCC continues to attempt and force them to capitulate with the demands of local business partners under the threat of an Interpol listing. When individuals apply for removal of such listings, they are usually granted on the grounds that they do not meet Interpol’s criteria. According to Stirling, “Interpol is clearly in urgent need of reform, and Australia should lead the call. Why has Interpol failed to recognize Australia’s granting of asylum to Abaidi, an act which should have instantly nullified Bahrain’s request for a Red Notice? There needs to be an end to the misuse of the Interpol system.” She added, “Countries with documented gross human rights violations; countries to which extradition is likely to result in an individual’s torture or death; should be altogether barred from recourse to Interpol. There needs to be international cooperation to implement human rights provisions in the extradition procedures of any nation. “In the case of Araibi, as in so many others, what countries like Bahrain rely on is ‘jurisdiction shopping.’ They list an individual on Interpol, knowing that most developed nations would never entertain the possibility of extradition, and just wait for that person to cross the border into a nation with a dismissive view on human rights.” This could be why Araibi was not stopped at the airport in Australia, but in Thailand. Thus, it would appear that Bahrain had waited to list Araibi on Interpol until it knew that he would be traveling to Thailand on his honeymoon. By the time that the Interpol Red Notice against Araibi was lifted, Thai authorities claimed that it did not matter since they already had an arrest and extradition request for Araibi from Bahrain. “The Red Notice against Araibi was illegitimate according to Interpol’s own rules. Thailand has not extradition treaty with Bahrain, and Araibi is in grave danger of torture or death if he is sent to Bahrain. The Australian government has good relations with Thailand, but if their extradition procedures make no consideration of human rights concerns, the government needs to push for reforms in this area and the case of Araibi presents an urgent need for change; otherwise Australians cannot feel secure traveling to Thailand,” Stirling explained. On 11 December, Araibi’s detention was extended for another sixty days by a Bangkok court. "I don't want to go back to Bahrain - I want to go back to Australia. I didn't do anything in Bahrain. I'm a refugee in Australia," Araibi said as he exited the courtroom. "If I am deported to Bahrain, don't forget me, and if once I'm there you hear me saying things, don't believe me," Araibi posted on Facebook. He explained that he knew what would happen to him if he was to be sent back to Bahrain: “I will be tortured to confess things that I have never done." Applying for removal of a Notice which was clearly politically-motivated can take months, only to have Interpol eventually concede that the listing should never have occurred. It is time for the international community to demand Interpol reform before more lives are needlessly placed in jeopardy.

Radha Stirling on the Pressing Case for Interpol Reform

Published December 27th, 2018 Al Bawaba Hayder al-Shakarchi Update: On 11th February the New York Times and others reported that a Thai...

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The four members were hosted by an equestrian club with close ties to the state’s ruling family, whose record on human rights has been sharply criticised by campaign groups. The ‘freebies’ were taken up during the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival, which is regarded as one of the pinnacles of the flat-racing season, in the last week of July 2021. The MPs were hosted by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, part of the wealthy Gulf state’s Ministry of Sport and Culture, and its UK embassy at the event in West Sussex. MPs enjoyed thousands of pounds worth of hospitality from Qatar during the ‘Glorious Goodwood’ festival of horse racing. They enjoyed hospitality, accommodation and dinners, according to the official register of members’ financial interests. One of the guests, Laurence Robertson, who represents Tewkesbury, declared hosting amounting to £1,650 for himself and his wife between Wednesday, July 28 and the following day. The couple enjoyed hospitality at the racecourse and at the estate’s country house and four-star hotel. The other MPs hosted were Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, Nigel Evans and Mark Menzies. The details have emerged after David Beckham was criticised for becoming the face of Qatar’s World Cup 2022 in a reported £150 million deal. Qatar has been promoting its image ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell accused the state of ‘sportswashing’, where an entity uses major events to improve its image. Mr Tatchell said: ‘Qatar seems to be using freebies as a way to soften up MPs and win them over in advance of the World Cup. It looks like a PR bid to minimise criticism over its poor human rights record. ‘I’m shocked that these MPs were willing to accept the hospitality of a dictatorship. This is the latest example of sportswashing by Qatar. ‘It is using sport to boost its reputation and distract attention from its abuse of women, LGBT people and migrant workers.’ Beckham drew flak last month after it was reported that he has become the face of the oil-rich state’s World Cup promotion. The former England skipper is said to have received assurances that fans will be allowed to display rainbow flags and women’s rights are improving in a country where same-sex relations are illegal. Nigel Evans was among four MPs hosted at the Qatar Goodwood Festival by the state’s equestrian club. House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was among MPs who enjoyed hospitality courtesy of Qatar. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Doha and Due Process International, said: ‘Qatar has invested significant funds into lobbying efforts aimed at the UK and into marketing the upcoming FIFA 2022. ‘Funds have been thrown at celebrities like David Beckham, media houses, academics and politicians. Qatar overall has been resilient to criticism over the years and that’s largely due to their economic contributions, but MPs, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and investors need to ensure they do not allow Qatar to whitewash their human rights record. ‘ Sir Lindsay, member for Chorley, was given guest passes for two people valued at £1,040, including hospitality, accommodation and dinner. Mr Evans, who represents Ribble Valley, and Mr Menzies, member for Fylde, received the same perks to the value of £700 each. The interests were all declared in the category of ‘gifts and benefits from outside the UK’. The club, which has its base at the state’s embassy in London, was established in the 1960s to develop Arabian horse racing and is described as a ‘government organisation’ on its Facebook page. The festival Qatar sponsors is known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’ and includes a ladies’ day and the King George Day between July 27 and July 31. Mr Evans and Mr Menzies also declared a trip to Qatar in October 2021, donated by the state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of their work on the British-Qatar All-Party Parliamentary Group. The purpose was to meet ministers and officials to ‘discuss Qatar’s humanitarian and political response to the Afghanistan crisis, preparations for the world cup, worker’s rights reform and bilateral relations’. MPs financial interests have come under sharp focus in recent days, with a three-hour emergency debate about standards in the House of Commons on Monday. There is no suggestion that any of the MPs receiving hospitality from Qatar broke any rules. A spokeswoman for Sir Lindsay said: ‘All hospitality is declared in full and on time to the Registrar of Members’ Interests in accordance with the rules.’ Metro.co.uk has approached Mr Evans, Mr Menzies and Mr Robertson for comment.

“Radha Stirling & Peter Tatchell: MPs wined and dined by Qatari royals in £4,000 ‘freebie’”

The four members were hosted by an equestrian club with close ties to the state’s ruling family, whose record on human rights has been...

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On the morning of October 4, 2021, our story prospector’s phone screen lit up with a Gmail notification. It was from a woman named Yvette who was desperately calling out for help. Yvette was desperately seeking the team’s help, she provided a crucial piece of information, a piece that would allow the team to begin the investigation of Charles Landry’s Florida Driver’s License. Yevette’s message detailed her relationship with an army commando who was stationed on a top-secret mission in Bagdad. She said that she already sent Charles $9,000 for an armored escort to Dubai, where Charles was detained for carrying gold that he was given as a “Gift” from the locals. Charles told Yevette that he would need an additional $75,000 to get out of prison. Yvette provided the team with a picture of Charles’s driver’s license. With this piece of information, we could hand it over to our search specialist and the investigation into Yvette’s mystery man could begin. After our specialist examined the driver’s license, we noticed a few things that were out of place. The Biggest red flag was that the signature didn’t match the name on the license. This mismatch of information was enough for our team to go further into our investigation. We brought Yvette in for a Pre-interview to hear her story and see if the information was adding up. The investigation begins When Yvette entered the chat room, her kind and sympathetic demeanor were immediately on display. She told us she is a widowed nurse, who met her husband online more than 23 years ago, so she was no stranger to the world of online dating. Breakdown Being kind and sympathetic are two of the best traits in a person. They are something that you should look for in any relationship. But unfortunately, these characteristics leave you vulnerable to scams. Scammers exploit a psychological trait called agreeableness. People who are agreeable have a hard time saying no, especially to someone they love. This piece of information we tucked this piece of information away for later. We could see that Yvette was torn. She was excited by Charles’s persona. He was an ultra-masculine, protective commando figure. Off in Baghdad fighting a secret war out of the view of the media and social pundits. He was the ultimate version of a man in her eyes. Yet something about it just didn’t add up. Red flags We took a step back to learn about Yvette’s life. In our initial conversation, we saw a few red flags that make victims vulnerable to these scams. Widows — Scammers look for people in vulnerable groups. People who have been involved in traumatic events in the recent past provide an opportunity for them to become their source of relief. Yvette is a twice-widowed woman. She has dated online before in the past, and it led to a 20-year marriage that lasted until her husband’s death. This experience has made her idealistic to a degree that left her vulnerable. The picture becomes more clear In our first interview with Yvette, we got two leads that could help us understand the story on a deeper level. The first contact was Radha Stirling, a lawyer based out of London. She specializes in getting westerners out of prison in Dubai when they are wrongfully detained. Her position has put her on the front lines in the war against these scams. Radha regularly sees people losing millions of dollars from these exact types of situations. She gave us insights into Yvette’s case as well as informed us about how stopping this billion-dollar international scam industry is going on her end. Dealing with a potentially corrupt system that is facilitating these scams isn’t helping her help these victims, but that hasn’t stopped her from pushing on. As we were conducting the interview, the situation intensified. Yvette was distraught. Every day, Charles was texting her from his dark and cold jail cell. Alone, hungry, and contemplating suicide. Yevette was on the verge of sending him $75,000. Our search specialist was able to talk her out of it just long enough for us to gather enough information to close this case. Radha let us know that Charles could not possibly be sitting in a jail in Dubai. There could be no case number found at the US embassy, and none of the legal aspects of his story made any sense. Although Dubai’s legal system was not squeaky clean, it certainly was not holding a US special forces soldier hostage and texting his terrified significant other for Ransome. While part of the team was focusing on interviewing leads, the other part was using our custom search tools to find out the truth about Charles Landry. A break in the Case While running an analysis of the photos of Charles that Yvette sent us, we found information that made it obvious that the story that Charles was telling could not possibly be so. These are the photos Charles sent Yvette: This photo is of “Charles Landry” This is also a photo of “Charles Landry” without his beard. Or so Yvette thought… The man in the first photo and the man in the second photo are not the same person, but they are related. And that relationship is one of marriage. We finally had enough information to tell Yvette the hard news. That without a shadow of a doubt “Charles Landry” was an alias. His story about being a commando is a lie, and the $9,000 she sent him for an armored escort was probably pocketed and split inside of a criminal organization. The Conclusion When we sat down to deliver the news, Yvette wasn’t shocked. She was destroyed. Victims of these scams often have suspicions. The guy or girl is just too charming, too good-looking, and the stories are too exciting to be true. Yvette said she just wanted so badly for James to be real. It’s often as if these scammers are so good at what they do that they hypnotize their victims. They put them in some sort of trance-like state that creates this strange state of mind where one-half of them knows that the stories are all lies and the person they’re talking to is a fraud. And the other half so desperately craves the romance and excitement that that person provides for them that it overpowers the suspicions half. The hopelessly optimistic half quiets the suspicions long enough to do things that it knows will eventually cause them great pain. But caught in the gravity of the scammer’s made-up character, and intoxicated by their fabricated confessions of love, the victim is willing to suspend disbelief until it’s too late and they have nothing left. Run Your Own Investigations All of the tools that the Social Catfish team uses to find out the truth about these cases are available on SocialCatfish.com. If you or a loved one is talking to someone online, Use our tools to verify the information they are giving you to make sure they are who they say they are. Run a reverse image search. Just upload an image, and our system will search the hidden layers of the internet to find the truth. Originally published at https://socialcatfish.com on November 10, 2021.

Detained in Dubai: The Scammer’s Gold Mine — People Search — Socialcatfish.com

On the morning of October 4, 2021, our story prospector’s phone screen lit up with a Gmail notification. It was from a woman named Yvette...

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24 year old footballer, Billy Hood, has been moved to Abu Dhabi prison and hasn’t been in ouch since, leaving his family distressed and confused. Mr Hood’s appeal judgment is scheduled for the 30th of November but Detained in Dubai CEO, says “the judicial process in the UAE can be unpredictable and unexpected delays are commonplace. Adding to the family’s distress is Billy’s transfer to Abu Dhabi with zero contact from him”. Billy’s mother Breda, told Stirling today “he hasn’t even been able to get in touch with his lawyer. I can’t imagine what he’s going through now. He’s been moved from pillar to post and was just finally relieved to be with other British citizens in Dubai when they suddenly moved him to Abu Dhabi. He’s going through the most stressful time in his entire life and can’t even communicate with his family, his lawyer or the British Embassy.” Billy was arrested nine months ago and forced to confess to crimes he had not committed, including selling, trafficking and possessing small bottles of CBD vape oil that his friend had accidentally left in his car when being dropped off at the airport. On the basis of the forced confession, authorities charged him with federal crimes causing the matter to be transferred to notoriously inefficient courts in Abu Dhabi. The family has applied for a royal pardon via the FCDO and appealed directly to Abu Dhabi’s ruler for clemency. A petition to free Billy Hood has attracted more than 110,000 signatures and the whole of Britain is waiting to see whether this young man’s life will be lost. Petition · Free Billy Hood, 24-year-old pro footballer sentenced to 25 years over CBD in Dubai · Change.org “Detained in Dubai has rallied up MP’s to support a parliamentary debate on whether the FCDO should increase travel warnings to the UAE”, added Ms Stirling, “It’s not just about the strict laws themselves, but about forced confessions, unfair trials and an unreliable legal system that can ruin lives like Billy’s. Then we have human rights violations and multiple cases of torture as in the case of Albert Douglas and the late Lee Bradley Brown. It is time the UAE were held to account. Travel warnings that reflect the true situation in the UAE will be a deterrent to British travellers but also an incentive for change in the Gulf state”. British courts have refused to extradite citizens due to human rights violations, forced confessions and torture while European Parliament has boycotted Dubai’s Expo for the same reasons. “ It’s not okay that visitors are mislead by television shows like the upcoming ‘The Real Housewives of Dubai’ and paid celebrity marketing campaigns without any realistic warnings by respective governments towards their citizens” , said Stirling, “the lack of warnings puts citizens in harm’s way”. The UAE government refused to hand over CCTV evidence from the cell where Lee Bradley Brown was allegedly beaten by police before dying in Bur Dubai police station. “This is telling in itself” , Stirling continued, “If the UAE could have exonerated their culpability through CCTV evidence, we are quite confident they would have shared it with the Coroner”. The fact is, the UAE has managed to circumvent the UK’s efforts to hold them to account which only makes authorities more likely to reoffend. Albert Douglas, a British grandfather jailed for bounced cheques he didn’t write, was recently admitted to hospital to repair broken bones after being beaten by authorities. This ongoing belligerence puts foreigners in grave danger and they deserve to be warned about Dubai’s hard justice system. “A mini-break in Dubai could literally end one’s life” , confirmed expert witness Radha Stirling, who has testified in Lee Bradley Brown’s new Inquest. “Billy Hood does not deserve a 25 year sentence for something he did not do. He has already lost a year of his life under traumatic circumstances which will likely haunt him for the rest of his life, even if he is exonerated or pardoned,” confirmed Ms Stirling who has helped in more than fifteen thousands cases since 2008. “I’ve seen the effect unfair detention and persecution has on people who are unlucky enough to see it first hand. I just hope Billy is home before Christmas to begin the healing process”. Detained in Dubai : http://www.detainedindubai.org Radha Stirling : http:///www.radhastirling.com Due Process International http://www.dueprocess.international Podcast : http://www.gulfinjustice.news Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/6KH20nwiZKSKEST4EyMHej Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/detainedindubai2008 YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Email: info@detainedindubai.org #FreeBillyHood

Billy Hood moved to Abu Dhabi over CBD 25 year sentence - hasn’t been heard from

24 year old footballer, Billy Hood, has been moved to Abu Dhabi prison and hasn’t been in ouch since, leaving his family distressed and...

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"The relentless energy of the campaigners at Detained in Dubai continues to amaze as they take on one case of alleged abuse and miscarriage of justice after another. The organisation’s attention is now also engaged in countering the misuse of the Interpol notice system, including allegedly by banks such as HSBC Bank Middle East. Radha Stirling, the group’s chief executive, seems fairly blasé about the risks involved challenging powerful state bodies. “When you deal with clients whose lives are in crisis, often devastating situations; wrongly jailed, lost jobs, income, reputation, and with their families in a state of traumatic upheaval, you tend to focus on the risks and dangers they are dealing with rather than any risks involved with helping them,” she says." #Interpol #InterpolAbuse #InterpolRedNotice #RadhaStirling IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts. Full article available at The Times

Undeterred in Dubai - Philip Wood, QC discusses Radha Stirling and Interpol Red Notice Abuse.

"The relentless energy of the campaigners at Detained in Dubai continues to amaze as they take on one case of alleged abuse and...

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A petition to #FreeBillyHoodhas already gained a record 107,000 signatures since the case was brought to the media two weeks ago. The family are hoping to gain 150,000 signatures which would rank the campaign amongst the top petitions in Change.Org’s history. “Britons genuinely care about Billy Hood”, explained Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai , who is helping the family. “People who have read the case, can see that Billy had indeed followed the law but unfortunately has wound up charged with crimes he most certainly has not committed. The public sees a young athlete who went to Dubai to expand his life experiences and work on his personal goals. He was working as a football coach, training 6 days a week and had his whole life ahead of him. It was taken away from him suddenly and through no fault of his own and his whole life appears to be over. It’s just quite shocking. “People can see how easily it could happen and that it could happen to someone they love. They simply don’t want to see Billy lose his life over this”. Billy’s mother Breda has appealed to the ruler of Abu Dhabi to pardon her son and let him come home. Meanwhile, lawyers for Billy expect a final judgment on the 30th of November. “It’s a nerve wracking time, just waiting for the outcome”, Breda confirmed. “Billy was hoping he wouldn’t have to wait so long. It’s agonising”. Billy’s friend, Ali, who left the CBD oil in the car has confirmed that he purchased it legally in London and had made a mistake in bringing it to Dubai. He had known other friends who vape in Dubai and thought it was legal. Ali is preparing evidence for the defence lawyers and hopes that Billy’s nightmare will be over soon. Meanwhile, friends of Billy are approaching the football associations to support #FreeBillyHood. Best friend and football promoter Alfie Cain said “We are a close knit community and we all need to come together to fight as one when something like this happens. We can’t leave our boy behind”. Alfie led a massive protest in front of Parliament and is preparing a new demonstration to raise awareness and support for Billy. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Radha Stirling: http:///www.radhastirling.com Due Process International http://www.dueprocess.international Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KH20nwiZKSKEST4EyMHej Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/detainedindubai2008 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Email: info@detainedindubai.org

Billy Hood Petition set to become largest in Change

A petition to #FreeBillyHoodhas already gained a record 107,000 signatures since the case was brought to the media two weeks ago. The...

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Naomi Douglas has sent a desperate plea and clemency request to Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, begging him to be merciful upon her husband who has undergone surgery at a Dubai hospital after being beaten in Al Ain prison. Albert has been at hospital already to repair his broken bones but the doctors have said he needs multiple more surgeries for other injuries”, explains Naomi who has been without her husband for more than 9 months after he was jailed for cheques he did not write. “The forensic evidence has since confirmed he did not write the cheques and the parallel civil cases are slowly proving that he was not involved in any wrongdoing”, she added. Dubai bar row Scot Jamie Harron freed from jail after Arab sheikh steps in - Daily Record “Albert has suffered in prison for the past nine months and I beg you, don’t let his life be over. He has always been the greatest supporter of your country and has never been in trouble with the law before. “Albert has sustained serious injuries that have caused permanent physical disabilities, broken bones, dislocated shoulders and head and back trauma from being beaten in Al Ain. He remains in a weak and fragile state and has recently had one operation of several to come over the coming year. “Please let my husband return to us for medical treatment in the UK so we can try to put his life together again and I will be forever grateful”, Naomi pleaded Dubai’s ruler. “Please save his life Sheikh Mohammed”, pleads wife of Dubai detainee Albert’s son, Wolfgang, hand delivered the letter to the UAE’s embassy in London today and the government of Dubai. “This is all we can do for now, hope for the ruler’s benevolence, that he will let this grandfather come home. He’s really been through a lot and our whole family has suffered since his incarceration. It is unimaginably stressful, knowing what he’s been through, knowing he is going to hospital and we can’t be there. He’s frightened and worried that he may never see us again but he’s trying to hold out hope. “My father is such a kind soul. He was recently caring for another grandfather who had dementia and needed help to maintain his dignity. The Dubai authorities met with the two of them and told my father they were releasing his friend. Dad thought they were both going to be released as they were transferred to a luxury two bedroom prison ‘cell’ but sadly, he was returned to the general cells after that meeting. He’s very hopeful that authorities will look into his case as they assured him they would”, Wolfgang added. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai noted that HH Sheikh Mohammed had intervened in special cases in the past, “Sheikh Mohammed has personally helped in other cases in the past and we hope that he will consider Albert Douglas for clemency. Albert has lived in the UAE since 1998 and had never had any problems before. I had advised him to leave Dubai but he assured me that he trusted the legal system would find him innocent. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for foreigners to navigate the justice system and lawyers do not always represent their client’s interests diligently. The forensics and expert evidence is slowly proving Albert’s innocence but his incarceration has left his businesses unattended to which has caused more cases to be lodged against him. Without an amnesty, Albert will be fated to stay in Dubai forever. We are all praying for his safe return to his family here in the UK”. Ruler of Dubai exonerates Jamie Harron Detained in Dubai : http://www.detainedindubai.org Radha Stirling : http:///www.radhastirling.com Due Process International : http://www.dueprocess.international Podcast : http://www.gulfinjustice.news Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/6KH20nwiZKSKEST4EyMHej Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/detainedindubai2008 YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Email: info@detainedindubai.org #FreeAlbert #DetainedinDubai

“Sheikh Mohammed - Save my husband

Naomi Douglas has sent a desperate plea and clemency request to Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, begging him to be merciful upon her husband...

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Clemency request for man sentenced to 25 years over CBD oil sent to HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Billy Hood, a 24 year old who has been sentenced to an incredible 25 years for CBD oil left in his car by a friend he’d dropped off at the airport, hopes the ruler of Abu Dhabi will hear his plea. Mother Breda Guckion, along with lawyers for Billy, have submitted a clemency request to the ruler of Abu Dhabi ruler, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyani. Divya from Mohammad Al Najjar Advocates said “With the cooperation of the British Embassy, we have submitted a clemency request on behalf of Billy Hood and hope for a positive outcome for Billy’. “Clemency requests are often submitted by foreign governments on behalf of their citizens in cases where there has perhaps been an injustice or where there are human rights concerns or if a prisoner is ill”, confirmed Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International . “Rulers have directly intervened in other cases like Jamie Harron’s, and have granted clemency to prisoners in the past like Farzan Athari . Matthew Hedges was ‘pardoned’ after being accused of espionage in the UAE”. Connor Clements, Brit jailed in Dubai for medical marijuana taken in UK In a heartfelt letter to HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Billy’s mother Breda explained the case background and pleaded for her son: “Billy has suffered in prison for the past nine months and I beg you, please don’t let his life be over. He has so much to offer the world and has never been in trouble with the law or even his family. “I beg you, Your Highness, please let our boy return to us and I will be forever grateful for your mercy”. British man pardoned in Dubai after touching a man's hip in a bar Billy was disappointed that his appeal decision would take six weeks to hear after already having served nine months in prison for something that was outside of his control and was not his fault. Billy Hood to remain in prison for further six weeks says Abu Dhabi court “I have been liaising with Billy’s friend who has prepared a statement for lawyers and will hopefully assist with Billy’s defence”, Ms Stirling confirmed. “The friend has confirmed that he had bought the CBD oil legally at a shop in London and that he accidentally left it behind in Billy’s car. He has explained in his statement that Billy does not use any drugs or CBD oil at all, that he did in no way traffic the CBD oil and certainly wasn’t looking to sell it. Billy’s friend regrets his actions and admits he wrongfully thought CBD was legal given how widespread its use is in Dubai. “Brits - Please support veteran Andy Neal & Stop Visiting Dubai!” - desperate father pleads “It was my mistake”, he told Stirling, “I can’t believe Billy has been sentenced to 25 years over CBD I bought legally in London. How can this be? I will do everything I can to help Billy come home”. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Radha Stirling: http:///www.radhastirling.com Due Process International http://www.dueprocess.international Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KH20nwiZKSKEST4EyMHej Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/detainedindubai2008 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Email: info@detainedindubai.org

Clemency request for Billy Hood

Clemency request for man sentenced to 25 years over CBD oil sent to HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Billy Hood, a 24 year old who...

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A case that began with a feud in the United Arab Emirates, stretched from the U.S. to India and is now playing out in the British courts offers a rare glimpse into the anatomy of a hack-and-leak operation’ reported the New York Times Business section. The NYT report analyses the hacking attempts of Farhad Azima and Khater Massaad but Radha Stirling , CEO of Due Process International and Detained in Dubai , explains her organisation and her clients, Dr Massaad and Oussama El Omari were also targeted by the regime. The Sheikh, the Businessman and a Hacking Mystery on 3 Continents - The New York Times “ This is monstrous ,” said Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai , whose organisation was targeted in an elaborate hacking scheme by the UAE last year. “ This is a government employing private sector spies to hack the communications of, and deceitfully obtain information from foreign citizens; citizens of countries who are allies of both the UAE and Israel. By contracting the espionage out to a private firm, the government of Ras Al Khaimah is trying to avoid accountability for spying on foreign nationals outside their jurisdiction; but this is a major breach and the UAE must be called to account. “ They went to an inordinate amount of trouble to hack my personal communications, which would have given the UAE access to confidential client information, personal details of victims, and the identities of everyone in our support network, with a very obvious intention of then targeting and persecuting those people. The regime is charged with grave human rights violations including torture, false imprisonment, fabrication of evidence, threats and intimidation, endemic corruption; and the list goes on. They want to silence every voice that draws attention to their wrongdoing, and most of those voices belong to people interacting with my device ,” Stirling explained. “The UAE is out of control, hacking Princess Latifa, Princess Haya, lawyers, activists and persons in litigation. Stirling has filed a report with the FBI over the incident and is pursuing all avenues for holding the UAE and their agents accountable. She explained on the Ras Al Khaimah initiated hacking, “This is not the first time RAK has been involved in hacking, nor is it the first time that Sheikh Saud has outsourced criminal activity to private sector agents. International US law firm Dechert is currently embroiled in allegations of torture committed on Saud’s behalf, Farhad Azima’s email account hacking resulted in litigation, and we have a list of multiple intelligence companies, law firms, journalists and PR agencies Saud relies upon to persecute his rivals and critics. The RAK government under Sheikh Saud, quite frankly, operates like a criminal organisation”. Read the Daily Beast exposé on the hacking attempts of Radha Stirling and Oussama El Omari below: Israeli Snoop-for-Hire Posed as a Fox News Journalist for a Spy Operation New York Times Report: The Sheikh, the Businessman and a Hacking Mystery on 3 Continents A case that began with a feud in the United Arab Emirates, stretched from the U.S. to India and is now playing out in the British courts offers a rare glimpse into the anatomy of a hack-and-leak operation. The US is well aware of the UAE's unlawful acts: Three ex-US intelligence officers admit hacking for UAE - BBC News For decades, Farhad Azima navigated the shadowlands where business blends with intrigue and the limits of the law. He popped up in the Iran-contra affair, was named in a Clinton-era fund-raising scandal and owned airlines that flew weapons into war zones. Mr. Azima, an Iranian American living in Kansas City, Mo., was not accused of wrongdoing in any of those episodes but is now entangled in a mystery involving another underground industry — hacking. Several years ago, hundreds of his emails, text messages and documents were stolen and loaded onto obscure corners of the internet. In short order, the records publicly emerged in news accounts and a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against him by a little-known emirate. Data leak raises new questions over capture of Princess Latifa | Dubai | The Guardian The tactic, called a “hack and dump” or “hack and leak,” is best known for its use against Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. Along with upending politics, the operations are creating challenges for law firms, news organizations and companies throughout the business world. Recently, as reporters at The Financial Times were investigating alleged fraud at Wirecard , a payment processor, emails written by one of the journalists were posted on the web. Data stolen from a number of companies, such as Sony and Intel, as well as state and local government agencies, have also been dumped online. Meanwhile, a cybersecurity watchdog, Citizen Lab , reported last year that an Indian company called BellTroX ran a “hacking for hire” operation for hundreds of clients seeking to gather information about activists, journalists and people involved in litigation. The name of BellTroX’s owner, Sumit Gupta, had surfaced before, when he was indicted on U.S. hacking charges in 2015 alongside two American private investigators. Mr. Gupta, who has denied any wrongdoing , remains a fugitive. Watch this video on Ras Al Khaimah corruption and hacking: “You can’t have a business that does this without a demand for it,” said Mark Califano, a former federal prosecutor who has worked in the corporate investigations industry. The case of Mr. Azima offers an unusually well-documented anatomy of hack-and-dump operations, showcasing their international complexity and the difficulties of identifying those who run and pay for them. The case’s reach touches on the United States, Britain, India and Ras al Khaymah, a tiny emirate ruled by a sheikh near Dubai. In 2007, Mr. Azima entered into a joint business venture with the emirate’s investment fund. But by a decade later, that relationship had soured. Lawyers and private investigators working for the emirate’s fund said in 2016 that they found emails and records belonging to Mr. Azima online, and that these showed he had misled it. Mr. Azima denied the allegations, but his hacked records were used against him last year during a trial in London, where a judge found him liable and ordered him to pay the fund $4.2 million in damages. The judge questioned how the documents had come to light, however, and Mr. Azima believed that the beneficiary of the hack, the emirate, was behind it. Then an unexpected call to one of his lawyers started a new investigation into its possible origins — one that led to BellTroX, the alleged hacking company, and another firm in India. The script has flipped, and a British judge recently allowed Mr. Azima to file a hacking-related lawsuit against the emirate’s fund, a major American law firm and others. All those named in the actions have denied any involvement in the theft of Mr. Azima’s records, and have insisted that his documents were found unexpectedly on the internet after unknown hackers released them there. Ras al Khaymah, the northernmost of seven emirates composing the United Arab Emirates, is only a 90-minute drive from the shimmering high-rises of Dubai, but its landscape consists largely of sand dunes and date farms. Unlike its neighbors, the emirate derives its wealth not from oil but from mineral deposits, and it turns these into ceramics used in home fixtures under the international brand RAK. The emirate’s fund first became involved with Mr. Azima in 2007, when it agreed to back his plan to develop a facility in Ras al Khaymah that would train airline pilots. His association with the fund’s head would lead to his current problems. The authorities in Ras al Khaymah would later accuse the executive, Khater Massaad, of misappropriating $2 billion. And in 2014, the fund hired a lawyer at the London office of Dechert, a large law firm based in Philadelphia, to start an investigation of Mr. Massaad, who denied any wrongdoing. (He would later be convicted by an emirate court in absentia.) See an interview with Dr Khater Massaad and Radha Stirling and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for breaking news: In Ras al Khaymah, Mr. Azima’s continuing ties to Mr. Massaad raised concerns. The emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, instructed an associate in 2015 to “go after” Mr. Azima, court filings show, after a private investigator reported that Mr. Azima was planning a retaliatory media campaign on Mr. Massaad’s behalf to depict the emirate as an abuser of human rights. Mr. Azima has also claimed that the Dechert lawyer warned him in 2016 that he could become “collateral damage” if he failed to persuade Mr. Massaad to cooperate. That lawyer, Neil Gerrard, who retired last year from the firm, has disputed that account. “I meant that once litigation is started or a prosecutor takes over, these things get a life of their own,” he testified as part of last year’s lawsuit in London. Whatever occurred at the heated meeting, Mr. Azima’s accounts apparently had already been hacked. Blog posts accusing him of fraud appeared a few weeks afterward, and his emails and records emerged on file-sharing sites. Soon, Dechert sent Mr. Azima a letter on the fund’s behalf stating that documents on “publicly available internet sources” showed that he had misled his investors. The letter claimed he had made fraudulent representations during talks to settle his ventures with the fund, including the pilot-training facility, which never became operational. Separately, it accused him of bribing Mr. Massaad to get a commission on a hotel sale. Mr. Azima was told to repay the fund millions of dollars. He refused, and litigation began in London, where he and the fund had agreed to settle their disputes. Court policies on the use of hacked documents vary among countries. Judges in the United States tend to frown on the practice in lawsuits, while in Britain, where Mr. Azima was sued, there is no rule against the introduction of stolen records, so long as a party to the case is not involved in the theft. “In the U.S., there is the concept of the fruit of the poisonous tree,” said Polly Sprenger, a lawyer in London. “In English litigation, we don’t have it.” A spokeswoman for Dechert did not respond to emails inquiring about the firm’s policies on handling hacked records, but Mr. Gerrard has testified that Mr. Azima’s documents were central to the case against him. Both the law firm and Mr. Gerrard have rejected any suggestion they were aware of efforts to hack the businessman. Outside court, illegally obtained records often surface in the media, and news organizations have struggled in recent years with how to handle them. In 2014, when emails from Sony Pictures were hacked and leaked in retaliation for “The Interview,” a spoof about a plot to assassinate North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, the company threatened legal action against media outlets. Some journalists declined to write about the emails, viewing the hack as a foreign intelligence operation. But others saw the documents as newsworthy. Before the 2020 elections, some newsrooms, including The Associated Press and The New York Times, distributed guidelines advising reporters to exercise caution in deciding whether to publicize hacked material. The editor of The Washington Post, Martin Baron, told his staff that articles had to emphasize “what we know — or don’t know — about the source of the information.” Mr. Azima’s case contained a special twist where the media was concerned. Among the records that emerged in 2016 were messages between him and a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, Jay Solomon, who had used the businessman as a source. That year, after the tense meeting between Mr. Azima and Mr. Gerrard, a blog post linking to hacked records appeared under the title “Fraud Between Farhad Azima and Jay Solomon.” Mr. Gerrard later said Mr. Azima had invoked the reporter at the meeting as someone who might write about alleged human rights abuses in Ras al Khaymah. Mr. Solomon has said Mr. Azima never mentioned the issue to him. But in late 2016, someone was shopping hacked messages between the two men to the news media, including ones suggesting that they may have discussed a possible venture involving weapons sales. Initially, Mr. Solomon was able to assure his superiors at The Journal that the documents were misleading. But in mid-2017, The A.P. published two articles relying on a large cache of Mr. Azima’s emails and records that the wire service said it had “obtained.” One article reported that The Journal had fired Mr. Solomon after it provided the newspaper with emails about his possible business ties to Mr. Azima. Mr. Solomon, later writing for The Columbia Journalism Review, acknowledged failing to tell his editors about all his interactions with Mr. Azima, including time he had spent on the businessman’s yacht. But he insisted that he had never discussed or engaged in any commercial ventures with Mr. Azima. “Somebody manipulated and weaponized those emails to cast me in the worst light,” Mr. Solomon said in a recent interview. In an email, Ted Bridis, a former editor at The A.P. who oversaw the articles, defended the decision not to disclose more about how it had “obtained” the hacked emails, saying it did not discuss sources. Kelly McBride, a media ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, a journalism research and training organization, said she believed that news organizations had a duty to reveal the motives of those providing them with stolen documents. “I think your moral obligation goes even further than transparency,” Ms. McBride said. “I think you have an obligation to not play into dirty tricks or dirty politics or dark forces.” Gurugram, a high-tech hub 20 miles outside New Delhi, is a mix of potholed roads and gleaming office towers that house companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter. On the fifth floor of one pale green building is the small office of CyberRoot Risk Advisory, a local firm that Mr. Azima recently accused in a London court filing of having ties to BellTroX, the alleged hacking-for-hire company, and of playing a role in the theft of his records. India is home to a growing hacking industry. “This is the dark underbelly of India’s I.T. sector,” said Salman Waris, a lawyer in New Delhi, who said some of his clients had become targets. During last year’s trial of Mr. Azima, the possible role of Indian firms had yet to emerge. And those working on behalf of Ras al Khaymah testified that their discovery of his documents had been a surprise. One private investigator, Stuart Page, said he was alerted in August 2016 about one of the blog posts by an Israeli Palestinian journalist whom he had asked to monitor the internet for information about Mr. Azima and others. He said he had notified others, including Mr. Gerrard, who testified that he had contacted another private detective involved in the case. That detective, Nicholas Del Rosso, said he had then hired an internet security firm that downloaded the files. Though the judge questioned the credibility of that story, his ruling against Mr. Azima should have ended the case. But soon, a reporter with Reuters contacted one of his lawyers and said the news organization had records indicating that BellTroX had sent him phishing emails. Mr. Azima, Mr. Massaad, their lawyers and other associates would uncover over 150 phishing emails, sent to them between 2015 and 2017, that bore the fingerprints of BellTroX, court filings state. Mr. Azima’s lawyers then hired a private investigator. That investigator, Jonas Rey, stated in an affidavit filed in Mr. Azima’s London lawsuit that an unnamed associate in India put him in touch with a computer specialist who used to work at CyberRoot. Detained in Dubai reports UAE's Israel-US hacking agent to FBI Due Process Newsroom & Media Centre According to the investigator’s affidavit, that ex-employee, Vikash Kumar Pandey, told him that CyberRoot had used BellTroX’s hacking infrastructure to send phishing emails because it lacked the technical ability to do so. Mr. Pandey also allegedly said Mr. Del Rosso, the private detective, had directed CyberRoot’s actions. Records show that Mr. Del Rosso’s firm paid CyberRoot over $1 million between 2015 and 2017. Last year, Mr. Azima sued Mr. Del Rosso in a federal court in North Carolina, accusing him of hacking. Mr. Del Rosso, who did not respond to emails seeking comment, has rejected the allegation and said in court papers that all his payments to CyberRoot were for legitimate services. He added that he had never heard of Mr. Pandey. The other investigator, Mr. Page, who did not respond to requests for comment, has denied any role in hacking. The lawsuit filed by Mr. Azima is not expected to go to trial in London until next year, and Mr. Pandey, the computer specialist, is unlikely to testify. UK courts expose UAE hacking, forced confessions & torture Due Process Newsroom & Media Centre In his affidavit, Mr. Rey, Mr. Azima’s investigator, said that Mr. Pandey had told him he faced legal problems, including an accusation of manslaughter, and that their conversations about hacking had ended after Mr. Pandey notified CyberRoot about them. Mr. Pandey has provided CyberRoot with a document indicating that one of Mr. Azima’s lawyers promised him a well-paying consulting deal if he provided information, court filings state. Mr. Pandey could not be reached for comment. A Times reporter who visited the offices of CyberRoot in Gurugram was told by a receptionist to submit questions in writing to the company’s executives. They did not respond to subsequent emails. The current round of litigation is not the first time the emirate’s name has come up in connection with cyberwarfare. A decade ago, a lobbying firm working for the half brother of Sheikh Saud, his political opponent, alerted the Justice Department that its computers had been hacked, according to a published account . More recently, The Smoking Gun , a news website, was the target of a denial-of-service attack aimed at an article it published years earlier about the arrest of the emirate’s ruler in Minnesota on charges that he sexually assaulted a hotel employee. (The charges were dropped.) “We never had that kind of attack before,” said William Bastone, the website’s editor. “And we have never had one since.” A spokesman for the Ras al Khaymah fund did not respond when asked about those episodes. In a statement, he said that the new lawsuit against the fund by Mr. Azima was unfounded and had no relation to the findings of fraud against him. Ras al Khaymah “is committed to bringing to justice those who have misappropriated public funds from the emirate and its people,” that statement said. As for Mr. Azima, he is confident that he will soon know the identity of those behind the hack. “They hunted me and other perceived adversaries,” he said in a statement. “But now the truth is hunting them.” Originally published at https://www.nytimes.com on October 23, 2021.

United Arab Emirates ‘Hacking Mystery’ - New York Times Report

A case that began with a feud in the United Arab Emirates, stretched from the U.S. to India and is now playing out in the British courts...

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