By Alexander Cornwell
DUBAI – U.S. citizen and civil rights legal professional Asim Ghafoor, who was convicted within the United Arab Emirates this week on cash laundering fees, maintains his innocence however pays the $1.36 million court docket high quality in order that he might be launched from detention, his lawyer mentioned on Friday.
The court docket on Wednesday upheld Ghafoor’s earlier in-absentia conviction, ordering him to pay a high quality however revoking a three-year jail time period handed down in Could.
“We're planning to pay the high quality in order that he might be launched,” mentioned Habib Al Mulla, a lawyer representing Ghafoor. “We proceed to say his innocence.”
It was not instantly clear when the high quality could be paid.
UAE officers had no fast remark.
The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.
Ghafoor, who lives in Virginia, was transiting via Dubai airport on July 14 when he was detained for what the UAE mentioned was an in-absentia conviction in Could for cash laundering and tax evasion that adopted a 2020 request for help by U.S. authorities.
Abu Dhabi’s Judicial Division on Wednesday mentioned the court docket had additionally confiscated funds illegally moved via nation. He would even be deported, it mentioned. Al Mulla mentioned the court docket confiscated 18 million dirhams ($4.9 million).
U.S. officers haven't confirmed the help request, however mentioned that the arrest was not made on the request of Washington.
Media stories in the USA say Ghafoor has up to now come below U.S. surveillance because of work representing Muslim People in civil rights instances.
The in-absentia trial and his detention final month whereas U.S. President Joe Biden was visiting the area has drawn criticism from rights teams and a few members of Congress.
Ghafoor’s supporters say he has been denied due course of and was unaware of the costs earlier than being detained.
Some have additionally prompt the arrest could possibly be politically motivated, citing his ties to Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered by Saudi brokers in Turkey in 2018, and work with rights teams vital of the UAE.
U.S. intelligence says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accredited the operation during which Khashoggi was killed. The prince has denied involvement. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are shut allies.
UAE officers have repeatedly mentioned the case in opposition to Ghafoor was strictly about monetary crimes.
($1 = 3.6727 UAE dirham)
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