Ex-Leeds MD threatens private equity group from Dubai cell
International Adviser 1/7/14
DANIEL FLYNN
The detained ex-managing director of Leeds United football club has threatened to reveal “damaging allegations” about his former employer from his Dubai jail cell.
Speaking to the BBC from his cell, where he has now been detained for six weeks, David Haigh said one allegation about private equity group Gulf Finance House Capital (GFH) concerned the run-up to its purchase of Leeds United in December 2012 for more than £17m.
The allegations were reportedly contained in a dossier compiled by Haigh about GFH’s conduct and practice, which he shared with two senior figures at the company in Bahrain, according to a statement from his UK-based spokesman Ian Monk, through the BBC.
'Falsified invoices'
Haigh was an employee at GFH when it first bought Leeds United but resigned after the club was taken over in April this year.
He has been accused of profiting from £3m worth of falsified invoices while at GFH, and prosecutors are currently investigating whether to press criminal charges.
In response to his latest allegations, a GFH spokesman said: “GFH cannot and will not comment on such general allegations, and is concerned about Mr Haigh’s protestations of being unable to engage with the claim against him while apparently being able to brief the media at will.”
The company accused Haigh of fabricating at least 55 invoices, revealed in documents from the Dubai International Financial Centre, but he has previously stated that many of the signatures “may be forgeries”.
Last month, after his detainment was extended, he announced that he was preparing a counterclaim against the company for monies owed to him “in excess of the amount of the claim made against him”.
'Subterfuge'
Haigh was first arrested as he arrived in Dubai on 18 May under the belief he was to discuss a job offer with his previous employer, only to be handed to the police, which he has previously described as an act of “subterfuge”.
His detainment follows a voluntary interview he attended in May with West Yorkshire Police as part of an investigation into the installation of surveillance equipment at Elland Road, Leeds United’s football ground.
He admitted to overseeing the installation of cameras in the club’s boardroom, which became a police matter following allegations that it may have been funded as a result of a misappropriation of club funds.
DANIEL FLYNN
The detained ex-managing director of Leeds United football club has threatened to reveal “damaging allegations” about his former employer from his Dubai jail cell.
Speaking to the BBC from his cell, where he has now been detained for six weeks, David Haigh said one allegation about private equity group Gulf Finance House Capital (GFH) concerned the run-up to its purchase of Leeds United in December 2012 for more than £17m.
The allegations were reportedly contained in a dossier compiled by Haigh about GFH’s conduct and practice, which he shared with two senior figures at the company in Bahrain, according to a statement from his UK-based spokesman Ian Monk, through the BBC.
'Falsified invoices'
Haigh was an employee at GFH when it first bought Leeds United but resigned after the club was taken over in April this year.
He has been accused of profiting from £3m worth of falsified invoices while at GFH, and prosecutors are currently investigating whether to press criminal charges.
In response to his latest allegations, a GFH spokesman said: “GFH cannot and will not comment on such general allegations, and is concerned about Mr Haigh’s protestations of being unable to engage with the claim against him while apparently being able to brief the media at will.”
The company accused Haigh of fabricating at least 55 invoices, revealed in documents from the Dubai International Financial Centre, but he has previously stated that many of the signatures “may be forgeries”.
Last month, after his detainment was extended, he announced that he was preparing a counterclaim against the company for monies owed to him “in excess of the amount of the claim made against him”.
'Subterfuge'
Haigh was first arrested as he arrived in Dubai on 18 May under the belief he was to discuss a job offer with his previous employer, only to be handed to the police, which he has previously described as an act of “subterfuge”.
His detainment follows a voluntary interview he attended in May with West Yorkshire Police as part of an investigation into the installation of surveillance equipment at Elland Road, Leeds United’s football ground.
He admitted to overseeing the installation of cameras in the club’s boardroom, which became a police matter following allegations that it may have been funded as a result of a misappropriation of club funds.
