An English court has rejected a diplomatic immunity claim from a Saudi billionaire, who has been a permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for St Lucia since 2014.
Sheikh Walid Juffali is being sued by his wife Christina Estrada for a share of his fortune.
He argued that the case should not be heard in London due to his diplomatic status as an attaché of the Caribbean island for the IMO.
Juffali, heir of one of Saudi Arabia’s largest commercial enterprises, was married to Estrada for 13 years before splitting up.
UK's High Court described his efforts to invoke diplomatic immunity as “spurious” and “an entirely artificial construct”, the Financial Times (FT) reported.
The judge added that there was no evidence that Juffali has any experience of maritime matters.
Juffali had gained legal immunity in the UK in November 2015 but the latest ruling overturns this decision.
Estrada’s lawyers claimed that Juffali had never attended a single meeting of the IMO.
The FT reported that Juffali’s legal team would appeal against the decision.
It is common for litigants to claim diplomatic and state immunity in the English courts.
Juffali's representatives said in a statement seen by the FT that If this decision is upheld, it will set a dangerous precedent for diplomats everywhere.
