'Flying carpet' judge order off divorce case

A judge involved in a multi-million pound divorce has been ordered to step down after he made remarks about a sheik involved with the case which were taken to be mocking, media reports suggest.

Sheikh Khalid Ben Abdfullah Rashid al-Fawaz was less than impressed with the comments made by Mr Justice Singer, which included references to sand, Turkish Delight and magic carpets.

He also said that the Sheikh should have no trouble attending hearings "at this, I think, relatively fast-free time of the year".

The Press Association reports that the Sheik considered these remarks to show bias and asked him to stand down. He refused and the sheikh took the case to the court of appeal.

Today (Thursday, November 15th), Lord Justice Ward described it as "a singularly unsatisfactory, unfortunate and embarrassing matter".

Mr Justice Singer responded with a statement which read: "I wish publicly to apologise to Sheikh Khalid Ben Abdullah Raid Al Fawaz for these remarks, which were not intended to be racially disparaging."

The divorce case involves a settlement claim by Wendy Ann el-Farargy, 59, which is being contested by her husband Nael Mahmoud el-Farargy. Their finances involves several offshore companies, one of which the Sheik claims to own.

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