Caribbean News Now!

By Ray Chickrie
Caribbean News Now contributor

DUBAI, UAE -- Guyana national, Abdul Sattaur, a diamond trader based in Brazil, and now held in a Dubai jail for an alleged forged US$100 note, has refuted claims by an Emirati newspaper, The National, that he appeared before a judge on October 1 in Abu Dhabi, and complained that he has not had access to the lawyer appointed for him by the UAE authorities, Dr Iman Al Jabri.

Abul Kalam Azad Sattaur

Sattaur did have a hearing three weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but these developments are in stark contrast to a reports in a Guyana-based newspaper, Kaieteur News, that quoted from the Emirati newspaper claiming that Sattaur appeared in court on October 1.

In a telephone conversation on Wednesday with Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Odeen Ishmael, Sattaur denied newspaper reports that he appeared before a judge on October 1. He told Ishmael that he has yet to meet with the lawyer, Al Jabri, to discuss his case with her.

However, Sattaur’s elusive lawyer Al Jabri told the National newspaper a few days ago that "the case file is large -- approximately 400 pages long -- and he is charged with the possession of a counterfeit bill alongside a second person who is accused of forging the money.”

She also said that cases involving allegedly forged currency were always handled by the State Security Court in Abu Dhabi.

"These cases take a long time to investigate. However, the case is due for judgment on October 8," she said. "I presented our defence and I have faith the court’s finding will be the right decision."

If this is true, it would seem that Sattaur was represented in the Abu Dhabi court by al Jabri without his knowledge.

Guyana’s Middle East envoy, George Hallaq, who is based in Greece, will travel to Dubai next week for a second time to meet ministry officials about the case, according to the Guyana embassy in Kuwait City.

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