Ben Keith and Rhys Davies featured in The Telegraph | David Lammy urged to sanction Gulf official over jailing of British businessman

Ben Keith and Rhys Davies featured in The Telegraph on 11 January 2025

The article was first published in The Telegraph on 11 January 2025 and can be read in full, here.

“The family of a British businessman jailed in Dubai has urged the Government to impose financial sanctions on one of the Gulf emirate’s most senior officials. Lawyers acting for the family of Ryan Cornelius, who has been languishing in prison since 2008, have called on David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, to target Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Shaibani, director general of Dubai’s Ruler’s Court. They have written to Mr Lammy asking for Shaibani, who is also chairman of the Dubai Islamic Bank, to be placed on a list of individuals under UK sanctions laws, effectively freezing his assets in Britain. 

The United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that Mr Cornelius is being held arbitrarily over the allegations of unpaid debts. Lawyers for Mr Cornelius have now submitted a file to Mr Lammy recommending sanctions against Shaibani for his involvement in corruption and the abuse of human rights.

In their submission, Rhys Davies and Ben Keith, international criminal law and human rights barristers, stated: “Mr Cornelius has been arbitrarily detained and mistreated. His fundamental human rights have been violated and his assets have been stolen. He is the victim of state-sanctioned persecution of the most serious kind. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Shaibani is responsible for those rights violations.”

Their submission to Mr Lammy added: “The United NationsWorking Group has examined this matter in detail and concluded that the ongoing detention of Mr Cornelius is arbitrary, falling within Categories I and III of their criteria for arbitrary detention. In the circumstances, there can be no doubt that MrCornelius’ ongoing detention is both unlawful and that the person responsible for his detention, Mohammed Al-Shaibani, should be designated.”

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Rhys Davies is a barrister at Temple Garden Chambers specializing in international criminal and human rights law. He has represented clients in numerous high-profile cases, including those involving torture, extradition, and Interpol Red Notices.

Ben Keith is a leading barrister at 5 St Andrew’s Hill specialising in cross-border and international cases. He deals with all aspects of Extradition, Human Rights, Mutual Legal Assistance, Interpol, Financial crime and International Law including sanctions.