Princess Shamsa: Campaigner calls for public inquiry into Dubai royal's kidnapping

A campaigner who says he has new proof regarding the kidnapping of an Emirati princess within the UK is asking for a public inquiry into why police halted their investigation into her disappearance.

Sheikha Shamsa al-Maktoum is alleged to have fled her household in 2000 whereas she was learning within the UK, solely to be recaptured by Emirati brokers from a busy avenue in Cambridge, sedated after which taken by helicopter out of the UK and returned to Dubai. She continues to be believed to be held captive.

A Excessive Court docket choose dominated final yr that her father, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, kidnapped Shamsa, in addition to her sister Latifa, who tried to flee the UAE on a yacht in 2018 earlier than it was stormed by Indian and Emirati forces and he or she was forcibly returned.

Princess Haya: Dubai ruler hacked ex-wife’s cellphone utilizing NSO Pegasus adware, says UK excessive court docket

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Earlier this week, the Dubai ruler got here beneath renewed strain as a Excessive Court docket choose discovered that he hacked the cellphone of his ex-wife and 5 of her associates, together with a member of the Home of Lords, utilizing NSO Group’s controversial Pegasus adware.

Now David Haigh, who has campaigned for Latifa’s launch, and his London-based regulation agency Bindmans, say he has “essential new” proof into Shamsa’s kidnapping, which might be offered to Cambridgeshire police.

They’re additionally calling for a public inquiry into why the Cambridgeshire police halted their investigation into the princess’ disappearance in 2000.

Princess Latifa, Shamsa’s youthful sister, has additionally known as for the police to reopen their investigation in a handwritten letter, dated from 2018. Haigh’s advocacy group, Detained Worldwide, handed the letter to the police pressure this February.

“All I ask of you is to please give consideration on her case as a result of it may get her her freedom… your assist and a spotlight on her case may free her,” the letter reads.

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“She actually loves England. All of her fondest reminiscences are of her time there.”

Police makes an attempt to journey to UAE

Haigh mentioned in an announcement: “A brazen offence has been dedicated on a British avenue. It is astonishing that this case hasn’t been solved after greater than 20 years, however credit score to the police for not giving up. They will depend on us for all the assistance and proof we can provide to carry the abductors to British justice.”

Through the acrimonious custody battle over Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya’s kids final yr within the UK, it was revealed in court docket that the Cambridgeshire police had tried to journey to the UAE to comply with up on their investigation into Shamsa’s kidnapping, however had been blocked by prosecutors.

‘Your assist and a spotlight on her case may free her’

– Princess Latifa, in 2018 letter to police

The court docket heard the UK overseas workplace acquired freedom of knowledge requests concerning the matter, which had been refused on the grounds that such data may hurt relations with pleasant overseas nations.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary informed MEE on Friday that Haigh and Bindmans had but to current the brand new proof to the pressure, however that preparations had been being made for that to occur.

As of now, a constabulary spokesperson mentioned the police had carried out “an in depth and exhaustive overview” into Princess Shamsa’s abduction however “regrettably we’re not ready to take any additional motion presently”.

“New traces of inquiry had been pursued in what has been a uniquely difficult and complicated case, nevertheless, there stays inadequate proof to reopen the investigation,” the constabulary wrote in an e-mail.

“As with all instances, it could possibly be reopened, ought to we obtain important and substantial new proof.”

The spokesperson additionally mentioned that proof accessible to the pressure throughout the investigation in 2001 was “inadequate to take any additional motion”. A overview of the investigation additionally happened in 2017 and that was concluded, he mentioned.

MEE requested the constabulary how vital going to the UAE would have been for the investigation in 2001 and, if the case had been reopened, whether or not it will be potential to ship police now. 

The spokesperson responded: “There are particulars of the case which are inappropriate to debate publicly because of this being an extremely advanced and critical matter. The welfare of people is our major concern and it will be inappropriate to share publicly particulars in relation to this investigation.”

Earlier this week in response to the cellphone hacking ruling, Sheikh Mohammed mentioned: “I’ve all the time denied the allegations made towards me and I proceed to take action. These issues concern supposed operations of state safety”.

“As a head of presidency concerned in personal household proceedings, it was not acceptable for me to offer proof on such delicate issues both personally or through my advisers in a overseas court docket. Neither the Emirate of Dubai nor the UAE are social gathering to those proceedings and they didn’t take part within the listening to. The findings are subsequently inevitably primarily based on an incomplete image.

“As well as, the findings had been primarily based on proof that was not disclosed to me or my advisers. I subsequently keep that they had been made in a way which was unfair.”