Exclusive: UAE police chief accused of presiding over torture of British academic running to be head of Interpol

The Telegraph has seen campaign material for Major General Nasser Ahmed Al-Raisi, who is thought to be one of the frontrunners for the job

Ben Keith comments in The Telegraph on 2 October 2020

A United Arab Emirates security chief accused of presiding over the "torture” a British academic is running to become the new head of Interpol, leaked documents reveal.

Major General Nasser Ahmed Al-Raisi has been accused of serious human rights violations in the Middle East, including against British citizens, and Interpol has been warned it could lose credibility if he is elected President.

Campaign material seen by the Telegraph shows the smiling Major General and his long list of professional achievements, honorary titles and academic qualifications, including a diploma in “Police Management” from Cambridge.

Ben Keith, a barrister at 5 St Andrew's Hill, who specialises in international crime said that the UAE had "effectively tried to buy its way into Interpol."

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: "This is another attempt by a despotic country to get their person elected as the president of Interpol.

"The money is there, the power base is there, they are hosting the assembly. They have effectively tried to buy their way into Interpol. This is the best chance they have and their candidate is clearly the front runner."

To read the full Telegraph article, published on 1 October 2020, click here (behind a paywall).