
Posted 25 January 2005
AZAD-HYE (25 January 2005): Armenian Deputy Hakob Hakobian and his son, who were detained by Dubai Police Directorate since 16th January 2005, were set free yesterday on the condition that they both should surrender their passports and remain in the UAE until the completion of the preliminary investigations, following charges of stealing two pieces of expensive garments (worth 8 thousand dollars) from a known boutique in “Wafi Mall” in Dubai. They were arrested in the hotel where they were staying, only hours after their shopping excursion to the said Mall. The Management of the Mall insists that they paid only 16 thousand dollars for a merchandize worth 24 thousand. It should be mentioned that most products in the “Wafi Mall” are not equipped with alarm tags, instead surveillance is carried out with fixing cameras.
A third individual called Hrand Davdian, who was arrested for the same reasons and who was shopping with them, is still under the Police custody. Up to this moment, the Egyptian lawyer who is handling the case could not manage to ensure his release on bail. All three are expecting the decision of the Public Prosecutor, who could press charges against them based on the outcome of the preliminary investigations. If the file goes to the Court, Deputy Hakobian, his son and their friend may be obliged to follow the hearings for a period of 3-5 months, at the end of which, if the incident of the theft is confirmed, they could face imprisonment verdicts for 3-5 years. Since Deputy Hakobian was on personal visit to the UAE, he does not enjoy any parliamentarian immunity and his trial will take the normal course.
His wife, who was accompanying him in this shopping trip was allowed to leave the UAE just one day after the episode. She returned back to
After his conditional release yesterday Deputy Hakobian assured by telephone to “Aravot” daily in
During the past few days his colleagues in the Parliament did not comment on the news about his arrest. Some of them underlined the fact that the available news are not from reliable sources. No official statement came out from the President of the National Assembly Arthur Baghdassarian. On the other side, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hamlet Gasparyan assured that the Ministry is in constant contact with the Ambassador of Armenia in Abu Dhabi Arshak Poladian and Consul Nana Ghazarian. Both officials who reside in
“Azg” comments on 25th January 2005: “Nevertheless, the details of this incident, which have been circulated in the Press are causing embarrassment to the Government. Despite that an individual should be considered innocent until he/she is proved guilty, it is still humiliating what occurred to Deputy Hakobian”.
Deputy Hakobian is a known businessman in
Upper-Left Photo: Member of Armenian National Assembly (Parliament) Hakob Hakobian.