Joyce's lawyer in Dubai, Salem Al Sha'ali, had told the Gulf News: "The suspected transaction cannot be considered a bribe. The figure isn't exact and the amount was given back because the deal didn't go through. It's a big misunderstanding.

Mr Amad said the quote, as reported, was inaccurate and he insisted there was no transaction and no deal. "No bribe was paid."

A former work colleague of Joyce's, from Australand in Sydney, described him as "straight and decent".
"If there's anything there, it would be totally out of character," he said.

For the 16 months before his shift to Dubai, in April 2006, Joyce was chief executive at St Hilliers in Sydney. It is well known in the industry that he parted on unhappy terms, although his termination contract prevents St Hilliers revealing the reasons.

TWO men viciously stabbed by a man say the justice system "favours offenders, not victims".

In a letter to the Supreme Court, Steven Jobson and Adam Rayner say there was a "lack of punishment" for Joshua John Scalzi.

In 2005, Scalzi stabbed the men in the head, neck and body, believing them to be "evil clones" who had to be killed "to safeguard the world".

He was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of mental incompetence.

Today, Justice Margaret Nyland said the men's feelings were "of particular importance" in designing a release program for Scalzi.

"It's clear each of the victims are still very angry about what was done to them," she said.

"They are struggling with what they perceive to be a lack of punishment, they feel the justice system has let them down and favours offenders, not victims.

"They feel the court was looking for ways to help Joshua Scalzi, but not them."

After his trial, Scalzi was released into his parents' care and ordered to spend 10 years under supervision.

I think that is his point, it could be any of you...