The prosecution is seeking a four-year prison sentence in absentia for dairy businessman Mohammad Yagub Haidari, who remains on the lam as his accusation on tax evasion charges goes before a court.
The saga of a man who once just missed getting Estonian citizenship for achievements of special merit, then fell afoul of the law, is expected to get legal closure on April 1 when the Harju County Court issues a verdict.
But the whereabouts of Haidari, who skipped bail in 2004, are unknown. He is believed to have returned to his native Afghanistan. EU and Estonian warrants are out for his arrest.
Haidari is charged of embezzling millions of kroons when he was director of the now defunct AS Lacto and AS Rapla Dairy. The case first went to court in 2006.
In autumn 2007, Haidari notified the court through his attorney that he had been injured in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan. A fax from a hospital appeared to confirm the fact, but Estonian courts have not been able to officially confirm the story.
Haidari also fled the country in 2003 after Rapla Dairy went bankrupt and was investigated for tax fraud, but he came back that time and surrendered to authorities.