Judgment in 'bounced check' case against Abraaj CEO postponed to Aug. 28: lawyers

[August 27, 2018]  SHARJAH, UAE, August 26 (Reuters) - A United Arab Emirates court postponed judgment until Tuesday in a case against the founder of private equity firm Abraaj, Arif Naqvi, and another executive for issuing a check without sufficient funds, two lawyers close to the case said.

Arif Naqvi, Founder and Group Chief Executive of Abraaj Group attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2017. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich /File Photo

The criminal case in the emirate of Sharjah relates to a check for 798.9 million dirhams ($218 million), signed by Naqvi and fellow executive Rafique Lakhani, and written to Hamid Jafar, another founding shareholder in Abraaj.

Dubai-based Abraaj has filed for provisional liquidation in the Cayman Islands after months of turmoil related to a row with investors over the use of their money in a $1 billion healthcare fund. Liquidators are also seeking to sell its investment management business.

Zafer Oghli and Khalid al-Bannay, lawyers for Jafar, told reporters the session was postponed until Tuesday.

Naqvi's lawyer Habib al-Mulla said the hearing had been adjourned and the parties were still in discussion to reach a settlement.

Neither Lakhani nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.

The punishment for issuing a bounced check under UAE law can be jail or a fine.

Naqvi is the single biggest shareholder of Abraaj Holdings, which owns the firm's investment management business.

(Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh; additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai; editing by John Stonestreet)
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