Dubai Police releases Habtoor Leighton Group CEO

Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis, chief executive and managing director of Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG), has been released from police custody, according to a top official of the Australian-based parent company of the joint venture Dubai firm.
Will Kidman, Executive General Manager - Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions of Cimic, said in an email statement that Lopez-Monis, who was arrested by Dubai Police more than a week ago, had "not been charged with any offence".
Also read: Habtoor Leighton Group's CEO arrested in Dubai
"Just letting you know that José has been released from custody without bail or any other conditions. José has not been charged with any offence. Thanks for your support over the last week," Kidman said.
HLG's parent company Cimic Group, formerly known as Leighton Holdings, had announced on August 18 the arrest through a statement to the Australian bourse on Thursday morning.
"As a result of a complaint filed with police in Dubai, the CEO and MD of HLG, Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis, was arrested after market close on Wednesday 17 August 2016," said the Cimic statement, which did not specify the nature of the complaint against Lopez-Monis.
López-Monís joined HLG as CEO and managing director in October 2012. He had previously worked for Dragados of Spain, one of the world's largest construction companies and part of the ACS Group, since 1989.
HLG, one of the leading contractors in the Middle East, was formed in 2007 following the merger of the UAE building contractor Al Habtoor Engineering with Gulf Leighton, Cimic Group's original operating company in the Gulf region.
In May, HGL drew attention after Al Habtoor Group said it had no relationship to the company as it had divested its stake in the joint venture.
HLG's projects in the UAE include the Burj Al Arab hotel, Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Pearl and St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.
issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai