Former Leeds United MD to face embezzlement charges in Dubai

AFTER spending more than a year in a Dubai jail, Leeds United’s former managing director David Haigh is to be charged with embezzlement and breach of trust charges.

GFH, the Bahrain-headquartered bank which owned the football club for two years from 2012, allege he defrauded them of £3m, which Mr Haigh vigorously denies.

His funds have been frozen and he is currently defending himself. He is also taking his own legal action, and launched civil proceedings against GFH for human trafficking, alleging he was lured to Dubai where he was then arrested.

He had been held without charge since his arrest on May 18, 2014, until this latest twist which has moved his case from the Dubai International Financial Centre to the Dubai Criminal Courts.

 

Mr Haigh, who is from Beeston, Leeds, was formerly deputy chief executive and general counsel of GFH and became a director of Leeds United in 2012. He became managing director in July 2013 before his relationship soured with the club owners.