In a perplexing move, RAKIA withdrew from the fray, allowing Azima to seek a default judgment. His strategy? Asserting that neither Dechert nor Gerrard had a stake in the initial fraud allegations.
However, the counterplay from the law firm and Gerrard claims that their right to defend themselves hinges on the fundamental principle that wrongdoing cannot hide behind the veil of privacy.
The Ghosts of Past Verdicts
This battle has its roots deeply entrenched in Dechert and Gerrard’s past engagements for the ex-leader of Ras Al Khaimah, one of the glittering stars in the UAE’s constellation.
In 2019, the High Court’s gavel had declared Azima guilty of defrauding RAKIA over multiple ventures, one being a flight simulation school. The price of this judgment? A staggering $4 million in damages. While this decision echoed again in 2021, the tides shifted when a second panel from the Court of Appeal presented newfound evidence in 2023, suggesting Gerrard’s potential role in manipulating the 2019 trial.
