Thailand To Extradite Briton To Dubai In Fraud Case

[khaowong1]

Bangkok has a red light district! It must be staffed and run by naughty foreigners as we know that Thais would never have anything to do with anything naughty, disrespectful and against the law like this!

wow, a red light district.. imagine that... In Thailand? improbable.

[khaowong1]

Arrested last May!!!!!! Why didn't he use some of those millions to buy his way out of it?????? He was in Thailand, right???????

maybe his Thai wife is in charge of the money, and her family had a sick buffalo that needed attention.

[elcent]

Using a Brit as pawn with the sole purpose of making Thaksins life difficult?

Hope the UK Foreign Office react to this.

Even he's not an innocent pawn, but the charges against him are blown up and out of proportion. The court should consider this too. Furthermore no charges of any of the Muslim brotherhood as head of the operation Jihad are mentioned. Smells really bad and rotten.

It seems as we have entered a new era of Jihad movement.

Let the desert be of what it is, a desert. Don't follow the blinding lights of closing time, it cant prevail.

Remember there is NO justice for infidels except of being used as tools for the Jihad.

I'm really tempted to call up Brigitte Gabriel to come on over here. She is the one who made it into the American congress to open the eyes of the beholders. Since then, and by initiation and actions of some congressmen and agencies, CAIR(Council on American-Islamic Relations) was found to be directly involved of sponsoring terrorism. Don't think it will be different elsewhere. It is not.

[elcent]

not to forget to mention

By offering a favor in return for the extradition is contempt of court by Dubai authorities to undermine civil societies. When will the country wake up to the facts.

[livingthedream]

Methinks he is a covert mossad agent with fake British Passport...the plot thickens n'est pas?

[elcent]

Methinks he is a covert mossad agent with fake British Passport...the plot thickens n'est pas?

Did you watch the vid? identified but not identified, conclusion and judgement out of snippets. It is more propaganda than fact finding.

[b19bry]

I hope he enjoys his chicken and rice in Dubai clink.

When awaiting trial it's 12 to a cell and food for only 11 delivered.

Survival of the fittest.

No i have not been in Dubai clink but i know some one who has.

Far more comfortable than a Thai prison!

On what do you base that ? I'm sorry but you're totally wrong there ! I had the misfortune to visit some friends in Dubai jails and they are dreadful !

Hopefully this guy will a fair shout in court here and escape extradition, otherwise he is toast. Dubai justice ? Forget it, the legal system there, as it is, is just there to serve the locals interests.

[kimmeer]

Thailand to Extradite Briton to Dubai Ahead of Thaksin Ruling

Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- A Thai court agreed to send a Briton to face embezzlement charges in Dubai, the emirate that fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra fled to in part because it doesn’t have an extradition treaty with Thailand.

Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates issued an arrest warrant in 2008 for Michael Bryan Smith, 43, on charges of siphoning about $150 million from Limitless LLC, the real-estate unit of Dubai World. Thailand, which arrested him last May, will extradite him in 30 days, the Bangkok Criminal Court said in a statement today.

“Even though Thailand and the UAE don’t have an extradition treaty, the UAE has expressed its intention to cooperate on the extradition of criminals in the future,” the court said.

Thailand is negotiating an extradition treaty with the UAE in an effort to get Thaksin, who fled a 2-year prison sentence for abuse of power in Thailand in 2008. Another Thai court is scheduled to rule next week whether to seize about $2 billion of Thaksin’s assets.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and has orchestrated protests from several locations overseas, including Dubai. He has said the charges against him are politically motivated.

The decision to return the Briton to Dubai may help accelerate negotiations on an extradition treaty between the UAE and Thailand, Thani Thongphakdi, a Thai foreign ministry spokesman, said by phone. Thailand wants it completed “as soon as possible,” he said.

The case “reflects that there is a need for a bilateral extradition treaty,” Thani said. Thailand has previously sent back about five people to the UAE, he said.

businessweek.com/news/2010-02-18/thailand-to-extradite-briton-to-dubai-ahead-of-thaksin-ruling.html

Edited February 18, 2010 by kimmeer

[tonglen]

Smith Thaksin allegedly siphoned off other workers' taxpayers' salaries money into his own bank account while working as a personnel manager CEO at a Dubai property company Southeast Asian country.

SPOT ON!

[hhiser]

"the UAE has expressed the willingness to do favours if Thailand asks in future."

I wonder what they have in mind?

Maybe Thailand is getting a hummer.

[Buchholz]

Thailand to Extradite Briton to Dubai Ahead of Thaksin Ruling

Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- A Thai court agreed to send a Briton to face embezzlement charges in Dubai, the emirate that fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra fled to in part because it doesn’t have an extradition treaty with Thailand.

Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates issued an arrest warrant in 2008 for Michael Bryan Smith, 43, on charges of siphoning about $150 million from Limitless LLC, the real-estate unit of Dubai World. Thailand, which arrested him last May, will extradite him in 30 days, the Bangkok Criminal Court said in a statement today.

“Even though Thailand and the UAE don’t have an extradition treaty, the UAE has expressed its intention to cooperate on the extradition of criminals in the future,” the court said.

Thailand is negotiating an extradition treaty with the UAE in an effort to get Thaksin, who fled a 2-year prison sentence for abuse of power in Thailand in 2008. Another Thai court is scheduled to rule next week whether to seize about $2 billion of Thaksin’s assets.

There's some doubt now as to whether or not the extradition to Dubai ever occurred last February and the UK also wants him now:

Michael Brian Smith in court in Bangkok in February this year

Extradition hopes rise in fraud inquiry

Prosecutors hope to bring an alleged international fraudster to the North-East to face trial. Michael Brian Smith, 44, was arrested on suspicion of financial frauds by police in Darlington in 1998. However, he failed to appear for his first hearing at Teesside Crown Court on February 15, 1999, and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Last year, Mr Smith was traced to Thailand, where he was arrested for allegedly embezzling £96m in Dubai after eight months on the run from officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He had been on the run in Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Thailand. He allegedly siphoned off workers’ salaries into his bank account while working as a personnel manager at a Dubai property company. He also allegedly set up a recruitment company to harbour the stolen money. The charges against him include forgery, betrayal of trust, and illegal possession of stolen funds. Mr Smith denies all the charges.

In February this year, a Thai court agreed to extradite Mr Smith to the UAE despite there being no extradition treaty between the two countries. However, after the hearing, Mr Smith vowed to appeal and officials at the UAE embassy in London were yesterday unable to say if the extradition went ahead. Mr Smith was committed for trial by Darlington magistrates on six charges of obtaining a total of £17,450 by deception from banks in 1997 and 1998 and the theft of £18,965 from a bank in 1996. A hearing was held at Teesside Crown Court, in Middlesbrough, yesterday to update officials on the case. During the hearing, Judge Peter Fox referred to Mr Smith as an alleged fraudster who trots around the globe.

Continues:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/8446370.Extradition_hopes_rise_in_fraud_inquiry/

The Northern Echo - October 12, 2010

[Hawk]

So where is he now?

[Buchholz]

One would think that the UAE Embassy in London would know if he was extradited to the UAE. But one would also think that if he wasn't extradited, that someone would notice and report that.

Lastly, one would also think that the 150,000,000 dollar case there would take precedence over the 36,415 pounds case in the UK, but then strange things can happen.

[Buchholz]

So where is he now?

As it turns out, he's still here in Thailand

Michael Smith is wanted for financial crimes

Thailand's controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could be at the centre of a wrangle delaying the extradition of an international fraud suspect to the North-East. Michael Smith is wanted in County Durham for financial crimes dating back more than a decade, and by police in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for an alleged £96m embezzlement in Dubai. The 44-year-old was arrested in Thailand last year, but is yet to be extradited to the UAE, because officials there have been locked in unsuccessful talks with their Thai counterparts.

Teesside Crown Court has heard that Mr Smith is appealing against a Thai court decision to have him sent to the Middle East despite there being no extradition treaty between the two countries. But The Northern Echo understands that the delay is likely to have been caused by the UAE’s reluctance to hand over Thaksin to the authorities in Thailand. The former leader has been in self-imposed exile since being ousted in a military coup in September 2006 after more than five years in power, accused of corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin, 61, is said to be facing a two-year prison sentence if he returns to his homeland, after being convicted in his absence on a conflict of interest charge.

Mr Smith, from Middlesex, was arrested on suspicion of financial frauds by police in Darlington in 1998, but failed to appear for his first hearing at crown court in February 1999. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest, and last year he was traced to Thailand, where he was arrested for allegedly siphoning off workers’ salaries into his bank account. It is alleged he carried out the fraud while he worked as a personnel manager at a Dubai property company, and also set up a recruitment firm to harbour the stolen money. Mr Smith was on the run for eight months after the charges – which he denies and which include forgery, betrayal of trust and illegal possession of stolen funds – were levelled.

It is believed he had been in Vietnam, Hong Kong and the Philippines before he was traced to Thailand and arrested at the behest of officials in the UAE.

Continues:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/8638849.Former_PM____may_be_cause_of_delay___/

The Northern Echo - November 16, 2010

Edited November 17, 2010 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Thai Court Permits Extradition Of British National To UAE

An appeals court in Thailand on Tuesday allowed a British national to withdraw his appeal against a lower court ruling that permitted his extradition to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to face embezzlement charges there. The ruling paves the way for the immediate extradition to UAE of Michael Bryan Smith accused of embezzling more than $150 million from a property company in Dubai.

He was arrested in Bangkok in May 2009 on a request from the UAE. Subsequently, the Bangkok Criminal Court approved his extradition last year, even though Thailand has not signed an extradition treaty with that Arab country. Even though Smith had filed an appeal against his extradition, he later preferred a petition seeking to withdraw it for legally fighting the charges against him in UAE courts.

It is widely believed that last year's Criminal Court decision to extradite Smith, who is married to a Thai woman, was influenced by Thailand's desire to get fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra extradited from the UAE. Thaksin, who faces a two-year prison term in Thailand, was a frequent visitor to Dubai when the Criminal Court made that ruling. He was sentenced in absentia after he fled the country in 2008.

Continues:

http://news.ino.com/headlines/?newsid=32920110412

RTTNews - March 29, 2011

.

Edited March 30, 2011 by Buchholz

[mallyrd]

he didn't say he didn't do it but that UAE has no evidence supplied.

I think when there is no treaty then just don't do it, a kind of logic. there must be a reason of why there's no treaty. And to hold him until eventually one will be made is not right. They should send him to the UK, as a unwanted person here, as the UK did forbid Thaksin to enter as an unwanted person, and let them deal with this issue. I'm confident that the UK will do the right thing.

Don't dream that they will trade for Thaksin, there is to much of a Caliphate's policy involved and they wouldn't give up that high card up their sleeves.

And also, is there any evidence except an allegation? I suspect something else to be involved.

I just doubt that the justice system over there is just. The raped woman sentenced comes to mind as an example.

If Thailand bows to the laws of UAE then it will be just closer to Sharia than ever before.

I personally think it's not the final yet and that there's still a chance to just expel him from the country and to work with a civilized justice system, like in the UK.

Where does it say that "Thailand is bowing to the laws of the UAE?" I think "cooperation" might be a more appropriate description. Finally, your reference to Sharia law is nonsense.

[bristolgeoff]

lets hope they bring someone the other way as well.he deserves the same treatment

[Buchholz]

Briton due back to face Dubai charge

BANGKOK // A Briton accused of embezzling Dh2.2 million from a Dubai property company is expected to be sent to the UAE today after being held in a Thai prison for two years. A Bangkok court in March cleared the way for the extradition of Michael Bryan Smith to face trial in Dubai.

"As far as I know the process is to be completed tomorrow," Thani Thongpakdi, the spokesman for the Thai foreign ministry, said yesterday. The extradition arrangements were cloaked in secrecy and it was not clear when Mr Smith, 44, would travel. His Thai wife, Laddawan, said yesterday: "The prison instructed him to get ready to leave for the airport at 1pm today."

His lawyer, Prachaya Vjitpokin, confirmed the prison had been instructed to prepare the Briton for his departure. Mrs Smith, who has visited him every weekday since his arrest, said she was worried about his imminent departure from the country. Mrs Smith saw him as usual yesterday morning at the Bangkok Remand Prison at Klong Prem, but may face a long wait before they see each other again. "I'm extremely upset at the prospect of not seeing Michael for some time," she said.

Continues:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/courts/briton-due-back-to-face-dh2m-dubai-charge

The National (UAE) - June 7, 2011

[Naam]

Bet he had a blast before getting caught!!

And as someone else said, wonder why he didn't just buy his way out?

Reading the background threads, it started as $600,000 pilfered in a 5 month period but now has appreciated to $150 million?? And all from other employees salaries? Get me a job there!

I can see why Dubai wants this guy back if he can turn over that sort of profit, he's a genius!!

Bloody %$ll, Briton probably would like to get ahold of this consultant too!

inflation!

[Buchholz]

Thaksin hint in deportation

Tuesday,

Thailand has extradited a Briton to the United Arab Emirates who is wanted by the Gulf Arab monarchy on charges of embezzling US$150 million, the WAM news agency said.

A Thai court on February 18, 2010, agreed to extradite 43-year-old Michael Bryan Smith, who was arrested in Bangkok in May 2009, after eight months on the run from charges that he siphoned the cash from the UAE's global holding company.

The move has political overtones as Bangkok has long been pushing the UAE over the fate of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who spends much of his time in Dubai.

Continues:

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=17&art_id=112032&sid=32707166&con_type=1&d_str=20110614

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-06-14

[Buchholz]

Dubai HR manager accused of fake employee scam

A British HR manager in a Dubai company is accused of fraudulently claiming a salary of nearly AED300,000 for a fake overseas employee he created, a court heard on Tuesday.

The defendant is alleged to have created a fictitious employee, named Frank, which he claimed was based in the company’s Moscow office. Prosecution told the Dubai Court of First Instance the HR manager pocketed the fake employee’s salary for more than a year, embezzling around AED298,388 ($81,236) from his employer.

The court also heard the British HR manager, who is accused of using fake university documents to apply for his position, is accused of claiming to have helped hire up to 12 employees and charging the company commission of up to AED1.2m (US$326,700).

Continues:

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-hr-manager-accused-of-fake-employee-scam-447696.html

Arabian Business News

[Buchholz]

Expat chameleon syndrome

Last week news emerged of a court case against a British expat, “MBS”, who was accused of embezzling AED 2.1 million (£350,000) from Dubai-based property developed Limitless.

MBS had apparently bought forged university certificates in order to get the highly paid job at Limitless in the first place. Further investigations revealed an arrest warrant out against him in England, a fake American passport, and unpaid debts of $100,000 in Singapore.

Having fled Dubai, he was arrested in Thailand before eventually being extradited to the UAE for trial.

Continues:

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/expat/annabelkantaria/10146124/expat-chameleon-syndrome/

The Telegraph

p.s. "MBS" = Michael Bryan Smith from the first post

[softgeorge]

"Even though Thailand and the UAE do not have an extradition treaty, the UAE has expressed the willingness to do favours if Thailand asks in future."

Is there anyone in the UAE that the current government wants? Is there a useby date attached to the agreement ie up until the next election?