Qubad Talabani Faces Arrest In Germany But Tells KT ‘I Did Not Make Threats’

KT News:

Qubad Talabani, KRG deputy PM

Qubad Talabani, KRG deputy PM

A warrant has been issued by the Hamburg Public Prosecutor in Germany for the arrest of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) deputy prime minister Qubad Talabani, who is accused of threatening to “break every bone” of a Kurdish-German businessman, according to reports in NDR and ‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’. Talabani today spoke to KT to deny the accusations. He said he’d had an angry telephone conversation with the businessman and that he has instructed a lawyer to act on his behalf.

It is understood that the businessman, Aram Abdulrahman, is in dispute with the Nokan Company over fees and commissions for sugar trade conducted with the company and the Iraqi Trade Ministry. Nokan is owned by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the party founded by Qubad’s father, the former Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani. The KRG deputy prime minister is also alleged to have told Abdulrahman that he will not be safe in Germany.

Speaking to KT from the USA, where he is on an official KRG visit, Qubad Talabani explicitly denied making any threats. “I don’t deny having had a telephone conversation with the gentleman, during which I was angry about the businessman’s claims”, he said.  Furthermore, Talabani told KT that he has received emails from the businessman which can be used in a court of law against Abdulrahman, while he said that his telephone conversation, even if it was recorded, cannot legally be used against him.

A statement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, sent to KT later today, says: “With surprise and dismay, we received the news of a case being filed against the Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani. The news of the case came at a time that the Deputy Prime Minister and despite his busy schedule, was, in his personal capacity, following up the complaint of the person who now filed the case, with the people he has a problem with.

“Here, we reiterate that the dispute in question has nothing to do whatsoever with the Deputy Prime Minister, neither in his personal, nor in his official capacity.

“We refute all allegations made by this person and we stress that we have enough evidence to counter these baseless claims and prove a real case of harassment, libel and intimidation against a government official with a view to making illegal personal gains.

“The deputy prime minister reserves the right to file a case for libel, harassment and intimidation inside or outside Kurdistan region against the person in question. He will also seek legal advice on this matter”.

If convicted by a German court, depending on whether article 240 or article 241 is used, Talabani could face either a heavy fine or between one and three years imprisonment.

4 Responses to Qubad Talabani Faces Arrest In Germany But Tells KT ‘I Did Not Make Threats’
  1. Baqi
    May 2, 2015 | 22:11

    Politically motivated. Why at this sensitive time? There are hundred of such cases all over Kurdistan.

  2. Saman
    May 2, 2015 | 22:19

    KRG is not giving in pressure to certain demands one of which is resuming another war at the behest of certain powers. Corruption now is a card that can be frame any Kurdish politician for not cooperating. Who is behind all this Corruption? Uncle Sam.

  3. Sissy Danninger
    May 3, 2015 | 13:49

    The human skeleton consists of at least 200 and, with individual variations, even some more bones. No reasonable person – and for sure the accused is a reasonable man – would be capable to break all of them 😉

  4. Lîloz Botanî
    May 3, 2015 | 18:10

    Talabani should be investigated by KRG and prosecuted for making KRG look so bad. Qobad’s mother has stolen half of southern Kurdistan, so it is natural to see that they make such threats against other Kurds who are simply trying to make a living by their hard work.

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