MP Khan backs jailed entrepreneur (From Your Local Guardian)
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Tooting MP Khan backs jailed Balham entrepreneur
9:54am Friday 20th August 2010 in Wandsworth By Eleanor Harding
Tooting MP Sadiq Khan
Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has joined the campaign to free a Balham entrepreneur from jail in Dubai.
Safi Qurashi, 41, who grew up in Ritherdon Road, was jailed after being convicted of bouncing cheques - a criminal offence in the United Arab Emirates.
This week Mr Khan wrote to William Hague, the foreign secretary, and the country’s British Ambassador, pleading for them to intervene.
Mr Khan said: “The lawyers for Mr Qurashi’s family have some serious concerns.
“He’s been given a prison sentence for what appears to have been a misunderstanding.”
Mr Qurashi has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of signing cheques worth more than £50m without sufficient funds and cancelling another cheque while he tried to complete three property deals.
According to his prosecution team, he handed over cheques as a “security deposit” - which is common in Dubai - but they were never intended to be cashed.
The news comes just two years after he bought a £43m island in the shape of Great Britain which is part of The World, a man-made cluster of 300 sandbanks in the Gulf.
Shabbir says...
8:30pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Sir,
I've read your backing for Mr Safi Qureshi who happens to be not only my close friend but is also an equal partner to my younger brother Mr. Mustafa Nagri and I fully endorse your backing. They (Mustafa and Safi) are in trouble for the bounced security cheques.
Please note that my nephew Mr Yusuf Nagri who was their employee and a cheque signatory only is also in trouble.
There was a breach of trust on the part of the greedy Russian. What we really don't know how can Emirates bank NBD process these cheques with one signatory when the mandate was for two signatories.
Why was the Russian NEVER been brought to court to testify. Why was Nakheel never been brought to testify in the courts.
I had witnessed personally that the court NEVER have studied their cases and verdict have been given blindfoldedly - assuming foul play.
I hope your hard work for all three of them pays off and justice can be done
Mustafa's MP have been informed accordingly Mr Barry Gardiner.