Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Misdemeanor Court sentenced a fake businessman in presence and another in absentia to six months in jail to be followed by deportation and fined the first Dhs1 million and the other Dhs100,000 for swindling Dhs1.014 million from a Gulf woman.

The court also ordered that the civil lawsuit be referred to the competent court.

The case dates back to August 2020 when the victim met a Gulf citizen, who alleged that he worked in the field of gas and oil and had investments estimated at Dhs10 million with a major company.

The victim stated that the defendant asked her to partner him in establishing a company in his home country to get large profits estimated at 30 per cent annually.

The defendant presented her with documents showing his intention to establish the company together with a feasibility study for the project, she said, adding that he asked her to transfer Dhs1 million to his cousin’s account because he had not yet completed the procedures for opening an account in the name of the company.

Accordingly, the victim transferred Dhs1.014 million to the same account.

The victim added that the defendant agreed with her to hand her over the company's documents and profits within 6 months. As the defendant did not fulfill his promise and started to procrastinate, the victim reported the incident to the police.

Several days later, the defendant asked her to withdraw the report to be given a contract certified by the competent authorities stating the money he had received from her. The victim did so and the defendant promised her to give her the money back but started to procrastinate again. The victim then filed a complaint accordingly.

According to the official documents, the court summoned the defendant, who denied swindling the victim’s money, pleading that the victim transferred an estimated amount of Dhs1 million to the account of his cousin with whom she had an 18-month business relationship.

The defendant denied he had requested the victim to partner him in an investment but he was faced with evidence showing that he and the alleged cousin had been involved in swindling the victim’s money.