This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25679106
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Missing Iranian-British man: Three arrested in Dubai | Missing Iranian-British man: Three arrested in Dubai |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three men have been arrested in Dubai over the disappearance of a British businessman of Iranian origin feared to have been abducted and murdered. | Three men have been arrested in Dubai over the disappearance of a British businessman of Iranian origin feared to have been abducted and murdered. |
The whereabouts of Abbas Yazdi, last seen on 25 June, remain unknown but the emirate's authorities said they had forensic evidence linking the suspects with his kidnapping "beyond doubt". | The whereabouts of Abbas Yazdi, last seen on 25 June, remain unknown but the emirate's authorities said they had forensic evidence linking the suspects with his kidnapping "beyond doubt". |
Mr Yazdi, who has dual British-Iranian citizenship, had been living in Dubai. | Mr Yazdi, who has dual British-Iranian citizenship, had been living in Dubai. |
He was once investigated by the UK's Serious Fraud Office over oil bribes. | He was once investigated by the UK's Serious Fraud Office over oil bribes. |
Mr Yazdi disappeared hours after giving evidence via video-link to a tribunal in the Hague. | Mr Yazdi disappeared hours after giving evidence via video-link to a tribunal in the Hague. |
The hearing was considering a dispute involving the National Iranian Oil Company, owned by the Tehran government - and references to information supplied by UK officials are reported to have emerged during the case. | The hearing was considering a dispute involving the National Iranian Oil Company, owned by the Tehran government - and references to information supplied by UK officials are reported to have emerged during the case. |
Last month, former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald said Mr Yazdi was likely to have been killed by the Iranian authorities after they were supplied with the information. | |
He claimed the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had handed over hundreds of files from Mr Yazdi's computers to the authorities in Tehran following a request made through the UK's Home Office. | |
Arrests 'welcome' | Arrests 'welcome' |
"I think it is now incumbent on the Home Office to explain why they thought it was right to supply confidential material about a British citizen to an Iranian state agency that has historically been involved in summary extra-judicial executions," he said last month. | |
The Home Office has previously said it cannot comment for legal reasons. | |
Iran denies involvement and said it was still searching for Mr Yazdi, the Times reported last month. | |
On Friday, a UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We welcome the arrests of three men by the Emirati authorities in connection with the alleged kidnapping of British/Iranian national Abbas Yazdi. | On Friday, a UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We welcome the arrests of three men by the Emirati authorities in connection with the alleged kidnapping of British/Iranian national Abbas Yazdi. |
"The UK will continue to liaise with the Emirati authorities over the investigation." | "The UK will continue to liaise with the Emirati authorities over the investigation." |
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism officers were involved in the investigation and the force was providing support to Mr Yazdi's family. | A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism officers were involved in the investigation and the force was providing support to Mr Yazdi's family. |
The UK has an international obligation to provide mutual legal assistance to other countries in certain circumstances, with requests received through the Home Office. | The UK has an international obligation to provide mutual legal assistance to other countries in certain circumstances, with requests received through the Home Office. |
Both the Home Office and the SFO have refused to comment on matters of mutual legal assistance as a matter of policy. | Both the Home Office and the SFO have refused to comment on matters of mutual legal assistance as a matter of policy. |
Previous version
1
Next version