Where in the world are the Guptas?

If you can answer that question, and you can provide information that leads to some arrests, you stand to make a load of cash.

The problem, of course, is that many fear they might have already zoomed off back to Dubai. Ajay, in particular, is rumoured to have made his escape. Top sleuth Paul ‘O Sullivan certainly believes so, and he claims it’s been “independently confirmed that Ajay Gupta is in Dubai”.

More from that story on EWN:

O’Sullivan says Ajay Gupta’s whereabouts have been confirmed by Forensics for Justice and it is pointless wasting time chasing butterflies.

He also says it is important for the South African passports obtained by the Guptas “revoked”.

But he says it is known that the Gupta brothers have entered and exited South Africa on other passports, while in possession of South African passports.

Claims such as these have led many to examine what kind of bilateral extradition treaty is in force between SA and the UAE. It’s Monday morning, and I know you might be struggling after a festive weekend, so we’ll try and keep this relatively simple.

Via the Daily Maverick:

Extradition is a process whereby states (requesting states) seek the surrender of persons accused or convicted of crimes to the state (requested state) to stand trial or serve a sentence. Extradition usually occurs in terms of bilateral agreements between states. Such agreements specify the procedures to be followed when requests for extradition are made…

…in the Gupta case it is necessary to consider that both South Africa and the UAE have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. The convention was passed by the UN General Assembly on 31 October 2003…

…if South Africa wishes to prosecute Ajay Gupta for crimes of corruption, and if Ajay Gupta is in the UAE, then the UAE cannot refuse to extradite Ajay Gupta simply because he is in the UAE. If it does so, without prosecuting him, it would be in breach of its international law to other states parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Boom.

I suppose it’s good to know that we have the law on our side, but we also know that the Gupta family seem particularly adept at bending the will of the leaders who run the countries they call home.

For now, I guess we just wait and see. It’s pretty easy to be optimistic, though.

[sources:ewn&dailymaverick]