UAE sentences former Khashoggi lawyer to 3 years in prison
Dubai, Jul 17: The United Arab Emirates has sentenced an American citizen and the former lawyer of Jamal Khashoggi the dissident Saudi journalist who was killed at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul in 2018 to three years in prison on charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
The lawyer, US citizen Asim Ghafoor, was also ordered to pay a fine of USD 816,748 stemming from his in absentia conviction, the UAE's state-run WAM news agency reported late on Saturday, adding that he would be deported after completing his sentence.
Ghafoor's lawyer dismissed the charges as absolutely not accurate at all.
I'm just hoping for a fair trial. I hope there's no political motivation here, his US-based lawyer Faisal Gill said. He had never heard anything about these charges and all of a sudden he's put in jail.
The UAE framed Ghafoor's arrest as a coordinated move with the US to combat transnational crimes.
Emirati state-run media said American authorities had requested the UAE's help with an investigation into Ghafoor's alleged tax evasion and suspicious money transfers in the Emirates.
Gill cast doubt on that claim, saying, "If the US had anything against him, why wouldn't they just deal with it in the US?"
The autocratic Gulf Arab sheikhdom announced the prison sentence a day after Washington-based human rights watchdog Democracy for the Arab World Now, DAWN, raised alarm about its board member's arrest from Dubai International Airport.
DAWN said that Ghafoor, a close friend of Khashoggi who previously represented him and his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, was in transit to Istanbul on Thursday to attend a wedding when plainclothes Emirati security agents scooped him up and sent him to an Abu Dhabi detention facility before he could change planes.
The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Bearys education announces ‘campus connect & talent hunt 2026,' offers up to 100% scholarships
Mangaluru: Bearys Education has announced the launch of its “Campus Connect & Talent Hunt 2026,” scheduled to be held on April 11 at the Bearys Knowledge Campus near Mangalore University in Innoli.
The initiative, aimed at promoting academic excellence and student empowerment, will offer scholarships of up to 100 percent on tuition fees for meritorious candidates.
The programme seeks to identify and support students aspiring to pursue Pre-University Course (PUC), degree, engineering and architecture programmes.
The event is open to students from SSLC (Class 10), PUC (Class 12), Diploma and ITI streams, along with their parents. Organisers said the day-long programme will focus on guidance, engagement and opportunities for students planning their academic future.
A Talent Hunt Examination will be conducted on April 11 at 9.30 am, with eligibility extended to students completing SSLC and PUC in 2026. Based on their performance, candidates will be considered for scholarships of up to 100 per cent.
The event will also feature a career guidance and counselling session led by Ameen-E-Mudassar, CEO of CIGMA. In addition, a technical and science expo showcasing student-led innovations, along with a food festival, will be organised as part of the programme.
Organisers stated that the initiative reflects the institution’s focus on quality education, personality development and integrity, while marking over 120 years of educational service.
Interested participants can register before April 8 by scanning the QR code provided in the official announcement (provided below) or by contacting 89704 96949, 81239 04351, or 99000 66888.
