As reported yesterday by the Yorkshire Evening Post, an asset freezing order was imposed on David Haigh by Justice Males at a hearing in London.
Haigh has been detained in Dubai since May, over allegations he profited from £3m worth of falsified invoices during his time at private equity group Gulf Finance House Capital (GFH), which purchased Leeds United in December 2012 for more than £17m.
The judge reportedly said GFH has a “good, arguable case” and that there was a “risk of a dissipation of assets”.
The company has also accused Haigh of fabricating at least 55 invoices, revealed in documents from the Dubai International Financial Centre, however, he has previously stated that many of the signatures “may be forgeries”.
Haigh had been an employee at GFH when it first bought Leeds United, but resigned after the club was taken over in April this year.
He was first arrested as he arrived in Dubai on 18 May under the belief he was to discuss a job offer with his previous employer, only to be handed to the police, an act he has called “subterfuge”.
In June, his detainment was extended before he announced that he was preparing a counterclaim against the company for monies “in excess of the amount of the claim made against him”.
Last month, he threatened to reveal “damaging allegations” about the company, including one concerning the run-up to its purchase of Leeds.
His detainment follows a voluntary interview he attended in May with West Yorkshire Police as part of an investigation into the installation of surveillance equipment at Elland Road, Leeds United’s football ground, where he admitted to overseeing the installation of cameras in the club’s boardroom.
