Published on: Wednesday, 3rd May, 2006
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Letter from Somali government confirmating that Said Abdi Firin is delegated to print Somali Currency |
The son-in-law of the president of Somalia went on trial yesterday accused of bringing fake Somali currency into Dubai , the court heard. Dubai public prosecution charged the accused (who has a Canadian passport) with having 180 billion Somali shilling (Dhs37.5 million) in couterfeit currency.
Saed Ali denies the charge and his defence lawyer claimed that the money was printed in Singapore for the Somalia government and was completely legitimate: “It was on its way to Somalia but landed on Dubai airport for transit” the lawyer said.
“We have officials from the Somali government saying that there was error in printing the currency, and they will come to testify to that,” the lawyer added.
In January, cargo employees from the airport alerted the police after they became suspicious over the money. The public prosecution sent the money to a lab and it was concluded that it was counterfeit.
The lawyer said that the deputy of the Somali minister of foreign affairs would be called to testify in the case, as well as the Somali ambassador.
The Somali consulate in Dubai said that the consul was awaiting instruction from his government as to whether he would attend the court. The Somali embassy in Abu-Dhabi would give 7DAYS no official comment.
The trial has been adjourned until May 10 and Ali released on bail.
Source: 7DAYS, May 3, 2006
