HOW UAE-BASED PERSONS CAN PROSECUTE IN UK

There are numerous ways in which a private prosecution may be brought by a UAE victim in the UK. These are but some:

With technology, much fraud is now committed from across the globe. Once the identity of the fraudster is discovered (although seemingly impossible, this can be achieved through disclosure orders), a prosecution can be brought in the country in which the fraudster committed the crime, even if the victim is in the UAE.

In certain instances and with particular offences, the jurisdiction of the UK is broadened: fraud (and related offences), blackmail, false accounting, forgery and numerous other offences can be prosecuted where a “relevant event” occurs in England or Wales. It is immaterial that the person is a British citizen or whether they were in England and Wales at any such time.

This event could be an important meeting or a relevant transaction.

In December, a report by Muddy Waters published findings in relation to NMC Health in Abu Dhabi, which led to private investigations that revealed significant fraud was committed. A crime may be prosecuted where a substantial part of the offence was committed in the UK. It is not necessary that the final act, or even the gist of the crime, occurred in the UK.

A person can be charged with money laundering offences where proceeds are laundered in the UK, even if the fraud was committed in the UAE or elsewhere.