Legal professionals in the UAE are saddened by the sudden demise of a practising lawyer who collapsed in a Dubai courtroom on Monday and died of a heart attack.
The 50-year-old Egyptian lawyer from Alexandria, Ali Obaid represented an Emirati advocate accused of swindling several million dirhams deposited by the former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra in an escrow account of the legal firm.
The Emirati lawyer faced a lawsuit from the former Thai PM for Dh441 million. In the high profile case, Shinawatra accused the lawyer of misusing funds from an escrow account of the firm that Shinawatra gave him access to, on his behalf. The lawyer, who is a director and partner in a leading law firm, is accused of usurping funds from the account.
The Egyptian lawyer, who represented the accused in the Dubai High Court, was reportedly exhausted and asked for water before he collapsed in the courtroom while the hearing was in progress. His client was served a three-year jail term in the alleged fraud and embezzlement case.
The collapsed lawyer was rushed to the hospital, but he died on the way before reaching the hospital. He was representing the defendant in the Dubai Cassation Court when he expressed uneasiness, held his chest and collapsed all of a sudden. The Presiding Judge immediately called the court hearing to recess and police called for an ambulance. The court proceedings continued, with his fellow advocate arguing the rest of the case.
An earlier report by Emarat Al Youm said Shinawatra, in his capacity as the owner of UK Sports Investments Limited (UKSIL), struck a deal with another company for £150 million. “Both companies agreed to deposit the amount in an escrow account operated by the law firm, and not to withdraw any amount unless there was written consent. The Emirati lawyer prepared a memorandum of understanding dated 2008 on the deal, stating that the amount deposited in escrow was £100 million, contrary to the agreed amount of£150 million.
“According to court documents, £50 million was then taken in the name of fees,” said the Arabic daily. The deal involved selling Manchester City Football Club to Abu Dhabi and the Emarati lawyer was the legal representative of the former Thailand Prime Minister and billionaire.
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