Guyanese businessman finally charged
After one year in jail…
After more than a year languishing in an Arab jail, a Guyanese businessman said to be residing in Brazil, has finally appeared in court to face charges. Abdul Kalam Sattaur appeared before the State Security Court in Abu Dhabi on Monday accused of being in possession of a counterfeit US$100 banknote. Sattaur was arrested in Dubai in August last year during a police raid on another businessman’s hotel room in which officers recovered Dh40,000 in fake notes. He denied the charge. The trader, according to the www.thenational.ae news website, said he had arrived in Dubai from Bangkok and had intended to stay for only one night before continuing on to Brazil, where he lives with his wife and children. He had told a diplomatic representative in Kuwait – Guyana has no diplomats in the UAE – that he visited the other businessman’s hotel room to arrange a diamond transaction and was caught in the raid.
Facing charges: Abdul Sattaur
The matter had been raised extensively in the press because of the length of time Sattaur had spent behind bars without appearing in court. His lawyer, Dr Iman Al Jabri, who was appointed by the court at a hearing two weeks ago, said: “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.” Dr. Al Jabri said 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 finding will be the right decision.” Odeen Ishmael, Guyana’s non-resident ambassador to the UAE, who is based in Kuwait, said several requests had been made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information on the trader since his arrest. “We contacted the ministry through various diplomatic channels and received no information,” he said. “Mr Sattaur’s wife is in contact with our embassy in Brazil and with us in Kuwait.” Ishmael said Guyana’s Middle East envoy, George Hallaq, who is based in Greece, would travel to Dubai next week for a second time to meet ministry officials about the case. Ambassador Ishmael, in an email response to Kaieteur News last week on the case, said that he had been working on all avenues to obtain information as to why the authorities in the United Arab Emirates continue to detain Sattaur for such a long time without laying charges. “So far, we have heard only Mr. Sattaur’s side of this affair, but there are certainly legal time frames under which a person cannot be held for such a long time without criminal charges being laid against him,” the Guyanese diplomat had said.
Press reports had said that Sattaur was born in Skeldon, Guyana, and travels on a Guyana passport. He is the owner of a diamond firm in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he is married to a Brazilian national and has children, all of whom live in Sao Paulo. On a regular basis, he travelled to the Far and Middle East before his arrest in Dubai, he revealed to Guyana’s ambassador to Kuwait during several phone conversations. Sattaur is allowed to make phone calls from jail. Last March, Sattaur contacted the Guyana Embassy in Kuwait, and that same month Ishmael made official contact with the UAE through their embassy in Kuwait City, seeking information about Sattaur, as to why he was arrested and why he has not been charged after being held in detention for such a long time. “Despite reminders, we have not obtained any response as yet,” the Guyana ambassador said.
Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Odeen Ishmael
This was followed by a visit to the UAE by Guyana’s Middle East envoy, George Hallaq, where the issue was again discussed with authorities there. Hallaq was told that charges would be instituted and that Sattaur would appear before a court. Sattaur’s wife has signaled intentions to approach the powerful Brazilian government to intervene.
;">Print Version