A senior member of the Qatari royal family has been accused of beating his wife’s chauffeur to death in a lawsuit brought by six former employees in the US.
Court papers allege that Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and his security detail attacked the Indian man at the royal family’s desert compound outside Doha before his lifeless body was loaded into the back of a car.
The 137-page lawsuit accuses Sheikh Khalid, the brother of the Emir of Qatar, of corrupt and violent behaviour and that he sought to press his staff into killing his rivals, hacking into the communications of Middle East dignitaries, and carrying out wild schemes such as developing a weaponised drone.
The case has been brought by six Americans who worked for Sheikh Khalid in various roles from racing driver to private physician. They say they were forced to work punishing schedules under strict orders from the mercurial playboy. All claim they were not paid money owed to them.
Sheikh Khalid, 33, told one of the plaintiffs, Terry Hope, that he believed that his brother, the Emir, was watching him or listening in on his conversations, and sought his help to debug his home.
Mr Hope also claimed that Sheikh Khalid asked him to fix a gun on a 3ft-long drone because he wanted to “fly it around and shoot people”, according to the writ filed this week in a court in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr Hope said that he subsequently crashed the drone on purpose when he realised what it was wanted for.
Initially employed as a team chief and car tuner for Sheikh Khalid’s racing outfit, Mr Hope said he was working at his employer’s private residence when he saw him berating his wife’s chauffeur.
Sheikh Khalid grabbed a pistol, Mr Hope said, before he issued orders to his security team to teach the chauffeur “a lesson”, the court papers said.
After they arrived at the desert camp compound, Mr Hope said he was forced to watch as the royal and his security detail punched the chauffeur to the ground, then picked him up and repeated the punishment.
He said he then saw Sheikh Khalid put a pistol in the man’s mouth before striking him on the back of the head after which the driver fell to the ground and stopped breathing.
As the body was loaded into the back of the car, Sheikh Khalid allegedly told him: “This is what happens when you cross me. This is my world.”
The lawsuit detailed how the businessman was later removed from his palace in 2019 after a four-hour armed stand-off between his security team and that of the Emir.
The six men are seeking damages from Sheikh Khalid, who heads KH Holding, a sprawling conglomerate charged with building some of the largest 2022 World Cup venues. He is best known for substantial investments in the drag-racing industry and spent some $100 million on building and competing in teams in three years, according to the writ.
The court action updates a legal claim posted last year by two of Sheikh Khalid’s former employees. It detailed how he allegedly threatened to kill his US security chief, Matthew Pittard, after Mr Pittard refused to obey an order to murder two people.
Then, in July 2018 last year, the Sheikh and his security staff allegedly imprisoned in one of his residences an American on two occasions, before arranging for the person to be arrested and held at a police station.
In co-operation with the US Embassy, Mr Pittard helped the individual escape Qatar. The royal and his staff are alleged to have demanded the disclosure of the American's whereabouts, warning that Mr Pittard would "pay the price" if he refused to do so.
“Defendant Khalid directly told Pittard that he would kill him, bury his body in the desert, and kill Pittard's family," the writ alleges.
That lawsuit also involved another former member of staff, Matthew Allende, who alleges he had to clamber over an 18ft-high wall to escape the royal's Qatari compound. However, he was badly injured, caught and taken to hospital before being sacked.
The UK's DailyMail.com, which first reported the latest lawsuit, said that the Sheikh's legal team did not respond to requests for comment. The National could not reach anyone at KH Holdings in Qatar for comment.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
SCHEDULE FOR SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - from 4pm (UAE time)
Angelique Kerber (1) v Irina Falconi
Martin Klizan v Novak Djokovic (2)
Alexandr Dolgopolov v Roger Federer (3)
Court One - from 4pm
Milos Raonic (6) v Jan-Lennard Struff
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Evgeniya Rodina
Dominic Thiem (8) v Vasek Pospisil
Court Two - from 2.30pm
Juan Martin Del Potro (29) v Thanasi Kokkinakis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Jelena Jankovic
Jeremy Chardy v Tomas Berdych (11)
Ons Jabeur v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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More on animal trafficking
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
More on Quran memorisation:
Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
