GHERSON INVOLVED IN CANCELLATION OF TWO INTERPOL RED NOTICES

Gherson involved in cancellation of two INTERPOL Red Notices

In August 2015 INTERPOL took the highly unusual step of announcing the cancellation of Red Notices against British businessman, Mr Rafat Ali Rizvi, and Saudi National, Mr Hesham Al-Warraq. The cancellation was reported on INTERPOL’s public website. INTERPOL confirmed the deletion of all information concerning them from INTERPOL’s files and issued signed letters confirming the same to risk international profiling agencies and due diligence companies and specified law enforcement agencies of all 190 INTERPOL member countries.

The pair had been subject to INTERPOL Red Notices in connection with politically motivated allegations stemming from the controversial bailout of Bank Century in Indonesia falling the 2008 banking crisis. Both men were convicted in their absence in Indonesia. Aside from the obvious threat of arrest when travelling the wider personal and commercial impact of the Red Notices against Mr Rizvi and Mr Al-Warraq cannot be understated. The public concession by INTERPOL is long overdue but goes some way to repairing the damage caused to both men’s reputation by the publication of these Red Notices.

The cancellation follows years of representations to INTERPOL, which revolved around highly complex international law arguments in relation to parallel investment arbitration proceedings in Singapore.

Gherson were instructed alongside lawyers from Vinson and Elkins and Lindeborg Ltd (London).