POLICE ARREST DODGY MOVER

Police reassure expats whose belongings never arrived home that their possessions can be recovered

Expat clients of rogue removal company assured property will be returned,

DUBAI // Families who lost thousands of dirhams in fees after hiring a rogue removal company in Dubai have been reassured that their items can be recovered as police arrested the man who sold them relocation services.

Lionel Philip Davis is facing seven outstanding criminal charges – three from 2014, two from 2015 and two from last year – related to issuing false cheques and embezzlement.

Disgruntled customers united to form a criminal case against Mr Davis, who ran Expat Relocations and was a former managing partner of Relogulf, a moving and storage company whose clients complained of problems three years ago.

It is thought Expat Relocations’ operations in Dubai ceased with the arrest of Mr Davis.

Jeff and Nancy Fullmer paid him Dh29,000 for a door- todoor removal and shipping service of goods to the United States but it took seven months for them to receive their possessions, having paid out thousands more in extra costs.

“We’ve spent the last two weeks with mixed feelings unpacking our life after this absolute hell,” said Mr Fullmer.

“Every aspect of getting our goods to our home was like being in an international crime ring. “We were constantly being asked to pay more money to unknown parties, as Lionel had sent goods forward without paying any fees.” Although the Fullmers now have their items, they have had to take on second jobs to cover the costs incurred.

“We’ll find a way to deal with trying to get back on our feet,” Mrs Fullmer said.

“Lionel will not be able to do that in prison; that’s where he needs to be.”

Mr Davis sold relocation packages to expatriates leaving the UAE on behalf of Expat Relocations, with more than 150 people thought to have had cause for complaint.

An investigation by Axa Insurance into alleged fraudulent activity is ongoing, with investigators looking at misrepresentation of insurance policies.

Gail Thompson, a British expatriate, began offering advice to others affected by the operation after her friend moved back to the United Kingdom and did not receive her items after paying shipping costs direct to Davis.

“People’s lives have been turned upside down,” she said.

“Since 2008, Lionel Davis and his cohorts have removed people’s possessions and charged them a hefty sum.

“They entrusted their most treasured items to his care, only to find that they either never saw them again, or had to pay huge sums of money to retrieve them.” Ms Thompson discovered four containers had been abandoned in Felixstowe, England, for 85 days, incurring huge demurrage costs.

She contacted international shipper Maersk, who agreed to discount the bill on hearing of the scam.

“I dread to think of how many people he might have duped over the years,” she said, claiming she found 200 people who had been.

Several logistics companies have claimed they received cheques that bounced or non-payment for services given to Relogulf. Customers of Expat Relocations called in the help of UK firm Condictor Solutions, which specialises in investigating fraudulent operations and help people to recover lost goods and finances.

“On average, we receive five to six enquiries a week from Dubai with regards to fraudulent companies,” said John Brown, one of the lead investigators, who has helped more than 50 Expat Relocations customers.

“With the Expat Relocations case, the Dubai entity was passing blame to its UK operation.

“We contacted the shippers, explained the situation.”

‘ Every aspect of getting our goods to our home was like being in an international crime ring Jeff Fullmer expat