The brother-in-law of Scotland's former First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh to face serious charges of extortion and dealing class A drugs. The case is connected to the death of a man who fell from a window in Dundee after allegedly being threatened.
The Accused and the Allegations
Ramsay El-Nakla, aged 37, who is the brother of Mr Yousaf's wife, Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla, stands accused alongside three co-defendants. The court heard that El-Nakla is charged with dealing cocaine from a flat on Morgan Street in Dundee between 9 and 11 January 2024, and at another city address, charges which he denies.
He is jointly accused, with Stephen Stewart (52), Jennifer Souter (39), and Victoria McGowan (43), of placing the deceased, Ryan Munro, "in a state of alarm and apprehension of physical harm" and extorting money from him by threats at the Morgan Street flat. El-Nakla does not face any charge directly related to Mr Munro's death.
The Fatal Incident in Dundee
The trial follows the tragic death of Ryan Munro on 10 January 2024. It is alleged that Stewart, Souter, and McGowan abducted and threatened Mr Munro, causing him such extreme fear that he attempted to escape the flat via a window. He fell from height and suffered fatal injuries.
Court papers allege the three "did threaten and intimidate him... cause said Ryan Munro to escape said flat from a window at height... whereby he was so severely injured that he died". They deny charges related to his death.
Further Drug Charges Detailed
The prosecution has brought a series of additional drug allegations against the group:
- Stephen Stewart, Victoria McGowan, and Ramsay El-Nakla all deny dealing heroin from a Dundee flat between 1 July 2023 and 11 January 2024.
- Souter, McGowan, and Stewart also deny dealing cocaine from the same property during that period.
- Victoria McGowan faces further accusations, including dealing the class C drug Bromazolam and possession of cannabis, Zopiclone, and Pregabalin on 11 January 2024. She was said to be on bail at the time.
All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. The trial is proceeding before Judge Lady Drummond at the High Court in Edinburgh.
