Police to review inquiry into 2000 disappearance of Dubai ruler's daughter – The Guardian, Theguardian.com
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The lapsed investigation into the disappearance of the ruler of Dubai’s daughter from the streets of Cambridge years ago is to be reviewed, police have said.
Confirmation that detectives could revive their criminal inquiries follows a damning family court judgment that found – on the balance of probabilities – that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum orchestrated the abduction of two of his daughters, Sheikha Shamsa in 2002 and her sister, Sheikha Latifa, who was seized off a yacht in the Indian Ocean in 2020.
In a statement released on Friday, Cambridgeshire police said: “An investigation into the alleged abduction of Shamsa Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum in 2002 was carried out by Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 2002. With the evidence that was available to us this was insufficient to take any further action. ”
A further review in again connected there was insufficient evidence for further action.
While noting that the investigation is no longer active and the standard of proof in criminal cases was significantly different to family court proceedings, the force said: “However, in light of the recent release of the judgment, aspects of the case will now be subject to review. ”
Despite the force’s denial that it is actively investigating Shamsa’s abduction, two witnesses who are close to Latifa have told the Guardian they were interviewed by officers from Cambridgeshire police’s major crime unit in the past year and handed over transcribed documents.
One of them was Tiina Jauhiainen, Latifa’s close friend who was on the yacht when it was intercepted by Indian and Emirati commandos in the Indian Ocean in 2020. She also gave evidence about her experiences to the family court hearing.
She said: “I was interviewed by Cambridgeshire police last year. Officers also spoke to her cousin. I hope there will be further investigations. ”
On the 2020 abduction allegations, Jauhiainen said: “I Was told I would be getting a death sentence or life imprisonment when they took us back to Dubai . It was mental torture.
“I was told that if I wanted to I could jump into the sea because that would be an easier option than being sent back for interrogation in Dubai.” In the end, Jauhiainen was expelled from the United Arab Emirates.
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