Former Leeds United MD lodges human trafficking case from Dubai prison

FORMER Leeds United managing director David Haigh has brought a case against his former employers, alleging they trafficked him to Dubai where he was subsequently incarcerated.

From his Dubai prison cell, Mr Haigh has instructed London law firm Stephenson Harwood to bring a case against former employers and ex-owners of Leeds United Football Club, Gulf Finance House, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Peter Gray.

He alleges that they engaged in human trafficking when they “lured” him to Dubai in order to have him arrested indefinitely without charge on suspicion that he falsified £3m of invoices, and where he has been in prison since 2014.

Mr Gray acted for GFH at the time in its litigation and criminal complaint against Haigh for the alleged fraud.

GFH chief executive Hisham Al Rayes and Jinesh Patel, a Leeds director, are the subject of the application which claims they lured Haigh to Dubai on the pretext of an offer of a new London-based job.

According to trade publication The Lawyer, he charge against them on the application filed by Jones claims the trio breached Haigh’s human rights, blackmailed him and also engaged in human trafficking to get him to enter Dubai.

Last week Mr Haigh was officially removed from his position at Leeds United, despite not having been involved with the club or even in the country for over a year.

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