Saudi Royals battle over fish supper

A 50-year-old British entrepreneur who introduced English fish and chips to the Middle East, is taking legal action against members of the Saudi royal family. 

 

Mr Gary Arnold, 50, alleges that the royals ruined his business after he says their company failed to make good on a multimillion-pound deal. He also says this has left him separated from his family, unable to return to the UK due to the confiscation of his passport, and is both facing a jail sentence and the repossession of his home for unpaid debts.

 

Mr Arnold and his lawyers claim the Saudis' company, Harbor Holdings-Himmah Foods, breached a legally binding agreement to buy out their share of the multimillion-pound London Business Group founded by Mr Arnold and his business partners. The deal was intended to fund its expansion in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and in return Mr Arnold should have received six million riyals (£1.2m).

 

Mr Arnolds lawyers said, "London Business Group was a very successful business that the Saudi Arabian royals' company has destroyed through negligence or incompetence."

 

Comment was also made that due to the pursuit of damages, due to the group's debts in the UAE, that he and his Iraqi partner Muhammad Hassan al-Samarrai faced jail sentences. 

 

The move pits Mr Arnold and his partners against the current chairman of Harbor Holdings and governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Bandar al Saud. Two other royals are linked to the company and they are the Saudi ambassador to London Prince Khalid bin Bandar al Saud, and the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Princess Reema bint Bandar al Saud. Both deny any involvement in the deal.

 

Princess Reema and Prince Faisal did not comment. Prince Khalid's spokesman said he had "never to his knowledge met or had any dealings with the individual or individuals who are apparently making a complaint". 

 

 

Whitestone Solicitors

Rochdale