Blair government ‘shut down police probe into Dubai princess kidnap’
DEMANDS were mounting last night for a probe into allegations that Tony Blair’s Labour government shut down a major police investigation into the billionaire ruler of Dubai.
It comes after a High Court judge ruled that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum orchestrated the kidnap of two of his daughters – one from the streets of Cambridge in 2000.
Princess Shamsa, then 19, said armed bodyguards grabbed her, injected her with sedatives, and took her to Dubai where she was tortured. Now 38, she has not been seen in public since.
Cambridgeshire Police launched a probe but it was allegedly shut down after interference from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under then foreign secretary Robin Cook – who died in 2005 – as a diplomatic favour.
Alec Shelbrooke, the Conservative Party vice-chairman, last night accused Mr Blair’s government of making “backroom deals” with the Sheikh.
But a Government spokesman said: “The FCO had no role in the investigation or outcome. The Foreign Secretary is looking into the court ruling.”
And Cambridgeshire Constabulary said it will “review aspects of the case” though it remains officially closed.
Tory MP Nickie Aiken, who sits on the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, said the police investigation must be reopened.
Abuses
She said: “This case clearly demonstrates that no matter what a woman’s background, education or status, domestic abuse does not discriminate.”
According to the High Court finding of fact the Sheikh, 70, “ordered and orchestrated” the abduction and forced return to Dubai of the sisters. Princess Latifa was seized by Indian soldiers from a yacht 30 miles off Goa in 2018.
Tiina Jauhiainen, who tried to help her escape, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Now finally the whole world knows that Sheikh Mohammed did indeed kidnap two of his daughters Latifa and Shamsa and he can no longer cover up the abuses.”
Labour former Cabinet minister Lord Adonis said: “The British Government should obviously now ban [him] and his associates from entering the UK.
“Our Royal Family treat him as friends and our government allows him to come in and out of the country freely.
“The hypocrisy and double standards are truly disgraceful.”
The kidnappings emerged out of the Sheikh’s legal battle with his sixth wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, 45, over their daughter Jalila, 12, and son Zayed, eight.
Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior family judge in England and Wales, said the FCO refused to disclose information about the inquiry into Shamsa’s kidnapping, citing the national interest.
A NEWBORN boy has been found dead in woodland by a horrified dog walker.
Police are searching for the baby’s mother following the tragic discovery.
Shocked Michael Dorsett, 68, told how he had been walking his collie cross at 2pm on Thursday.
The retired lorry driver said: “I saw something wrapped in a towel, lying by the bottom of a tree and I thought somebody had dumped a dead cat or a dead dog
Sheikh’s daughter Shamsa who was snatched in 2000, above. Left, the ruler with estranged sixth wife Haya and, right, shaking hands at Number 10 with PM Gordon Brown in 2007 and then I saw a little arm or something sticking out.
“I peeled back the towel to have a look and I saw immediately it was a baby so I touched his face gently with the back of my finger and it was ice cold.
“There was only a small bit of his face exposed. I don’t know how long he had been there but it can’t have been longer than a few hours. Initially, I was concerned the mother might have left him there and gone off and done something to herself – but there was no sign of anybody else around.
“It was horrible. I didn’t look in much detail. I was just hoping the mother was OK really.”
The discovery of the baby in Hythe, near Southampton, follows the death of another newborn who was left on a road in Portsmouth on January 25.
Sheikh Mohammed with the Queen at a horse show and, above, the late Robin Cook
Both incidents are being investigated by Hampshire Police.
Detective Chief Inspector Ross Toms said: “I’ve no doubt this will have been a very distressing experience for the mother.
“Our priority is to ensure she receives the care she requires.”
Police officers with sniffer dogs yesterday searched the woodland for clues.
A blue crime scene tent has been put up at the site and officers remain at the scene today.