DAMMAM, 5 September — A Saudi businessman has filed a lawsuit against a fugitive Bahraini intelligence officer in a Manama court for embezzling SR100 million from the Saudi and his Qatari business partner.
Col. Adel Jassem Flaifel has fled Bahrain after the authorities launched a probe into his financial records following allegations of fraud.
He now lives in Brisbane, Australia, and where he has invested in real estate projects through one of his companies, Falcon Projects.
The two businessmen accused Flaifel of taking 10 million Bahraini dinars (SR100 million) from them after persuading them to invest in a lucrative real estate project in Bahrain.
They said Flaifel bought properties in his name with their money but did not transfer their ownership to them as was agreed.
Immediately after taking their money the colonel disappeared, the businessmen said. They later learned that the officer was in Brisbane, Australia, where he invested in tourism business.
The two businessmen had filed another suit in a Brisbane court claiming that the Bahraini bought a number of properties in Australia with their money after his arrival there three months ago.
The officer denied receiving the money from the two businessmen and filed a counter case arguing that the Saudi had issued him a dud check for 50,000 Bahraini dinars (SR500,000).
Flaifil faces a Queensland civil case over the origin of his investment funds. He denies any impropriety. His assets have been frozen internationally and he is not permitted to leave Australia.
Bahrain has asked Interpol to help track down Col. Flaifel, the first high-ranking officer to be investigated for fraud since the Gulf state launched landmark political and economic reforms in 2001.
Col. Flaifel, who served in the Interior Ministry’s secret police from the early 1980s, also stands accused by the opposition and political activists of torture and human rights violations.
