Court clears Emirati in Dh1.2m fraud case

dubai — The Court of Misdemeanours has acquitted an Emirati man, reversing an earlier ruling that convicted him of fraud.

The court had sentenced the 34-year-old in November to one year in prison, for fraud and breach of trust. Objecting to it, Hani Hammoud, the defence lawyer, said it was given in absentia against his client and that he had been wrongly charged.

The defendant had been holding the business licence of the firm through which the swindlers had operated. Public prosecution records showed that the company had promoted itself as an international firm doing online marketing and ads. The defendant was accused, along with others, of luring investors after inviting them to meetings at 5-star hotels and giving out brochures about the company and its bogus profits. The suspects swindled over Dh1.25 million from five complainants who invested in the firm. “My client does not even know the other defendants except for the one he sponsored in the business. The other accomplices were the ones who had run the company that is located in the JLT area. My client had only the business licence registered in his name but he had no other real part in the company whatsoever,” the lawyer argued.

“As per law, the fact that he is just a sponsor does spare him of any civil or criminal liability... So it is imperative as per article 211 of the Criminal Procedures Law, to acquit my client of the charge.” Since the legal deadline has passed, and the public prosecution did not appeal the acquittal, the ruling has become final. Meanwhile, six Iranians and a Pakistani have already filed appeals against their conviction (one year jail term to each of them) in the same fraud case.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

My client does not even know the other defendants except for the one he sponsored in the business.” Hani Hammouda, defence lawyer