Sheik ‘who owns London’ accused over plot to kidnap British man
HE Qatari royals have become so integrated into British life that the Emir’s cousin is helping to pay for the upkeep of the Queen Mother’s former home in Scotland. But now some rain is about to fall on the al-thani family’s parade.
i can disclose that the Gulf state’s former prime minister, Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-thani — known as HBJ and nicknamed ‘the man who bought London’ — faces extraordinary claims in the High Court that he was responsible for seizing assets from a British citizen and that agents acting on his behalf subjected the man, Fawaz al-attiya, to ‘conditions that amount to torture’.
according to the writ, whose claims are vigorously disputed, HBJ was responsible for the seizure of al-attiya’s 20,000 square metre property in Doha, the gas-rich gulf state’s capital.
HBJ, who went on a spree in London with his personal fortune and as head of the Qatar investment authority, is a friend of Prince Charles and has met David Cameron in Downing Street. Qatar invested in Harrods, Sainsbury’s and the London Stock Exchange.
British-born al-attiya, 47, who lives near London, was a spokesman for Qatar. He allegedly fell foul of HBJ after he refused to sell the Sheik his land at a price ‘considerably below’ market value. HBJ’s lawyers say the land was ‘acquired by the state in accordance with law’, on similar grounds to compulsory purchase and he played no role in the process.
it is claimed that HBJ ordered Fawaz be abducted while he was staying in Dubai and brought back to Qatar. after a bungled attempt to abduct him, al-attiya moved to Saudi arabia, but was ‘forcibly removed’ in 2009.
HBJ says al-attiya was not abducted but extradited by the Saudis ‘in accordance with well-established procedures agreed between member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council’, and that none of the actions were directed by him.
the writ claims that in Qatar al-attiya was imprisoned and refused contact with his family or lawyer. it claims he was kept in solitary confinement and subjected to excessive use of handcuffs. He also allegedly lacked access to sufficient food and water, fresh air and sunlight, exercise and adequate bedding, and experienced sleep deprivation. the writ claims HBJ subjected him to ‘conditions that amount to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, in breach of Qatari law and international law’.
HBJ’S
lawyers, Carter-ruck, dismissed the claims as ridiculous and say he was ‘treated in a manner that accorded fully with Qatari and international law’.
although, according to the writ, alattiya was told by prison guards he would be held indefinitely, a judge ordered his immediate release in 2010. Yet he was not freed until 2011.
al-attiya is seeking damages from HBJ, whom he accuses of ‘arbitary, oppressive and unconstitutional’ conduct. HBJ says the allegations are ‘wholly unsustainable on grounds relating to sovereign and diplomatic immunity, as well as the demonstrable facts of the case’.
Let the court battle commence.