Dubai - The case involves the purchase of 12 luxury helicopters for use by top leaders.
Published: Thu 20 Sep 2018, 6:31 PM
Last updated: Fri 21 Sep 2018, 1:47 AM
Christian James Michel, a British middleman wanted by Indian investigative agencies in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, has till October 2 to challenge his extradition decision issued by a Dubai court, Khaleej Times can reveal.
In a decision dated September 2, the Dubai Court of Appeals had ruled that he can be extradited to the authorities concerned in India. However, the extradition decision has to be approved by the UAE Minister of Justice before its implementation procedures can start.
The Briton, who is accused of organising bribes in exchange for a contract for VVIP helicopters, has 30 days from the day the decision was issued to appeal it, a source said.
Michel is out on bail, while his passport remains seized with the authorities here.
The ruling follows deliberation by a bench presided over by judge Eissa Mohamed Sherif, with member judges Rashid Mohamed Al Sumairi and Ashraf Mohamed Al Shawadfi. The September 2 decision, however, was pronounced by a different set of judges.
Michel's extradition request had previously been closed administratively here as the necessary papers were not then available from India. Once his file was complete, the case was re-opened, after which he was summoned again.
When Khaleej Times contacted the British Embassy in Dubai about the decision, the mission said it was "assisting a British man in Dubai", and has "been in contact with local authorities".
How 'Choppergate' unfolded
AgustaWestland, branded as Leonardo Helicopters since January 2016, was a helicopter design and manufacturing company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A (previously Finmeccanica).
In early 2013, Michel, a well-known British consultant active in the Indian defence sector, was hired by AgustaWestland to facilitate a deal to supply 12 AW101 helicopters to the Indian Ministry of Defence. The choppers were to be used by the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to carry the president, prime minister and other VVIPs.
The then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government entered a Rs35.46 billion deal with AgustaWestland. After Finmeccanica chief Giuseppe Orsi's arrest in Italy in 2013, India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began an enquiry into the alleged kickbacks from the deal.
On January 2014, India scrapped the $630 million contracts it awarded to AgustaWestland over the alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of kickbacks worth Rs4.23 billion it paid to secure the deal. The same year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also began investigating the chopper deal.
Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, along with Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.
The ED, in its charge sheet, has claimed that the money was laundered through multiple foreign companies, which were used as fronts to park alleged kickbacks.
mary@khaleejtimes.com
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