Businessman loses Dhs1.9m in scam

DUBAI: Two men forged government documentstohoodwinkabusinessman out of Dhs1.9 million, prosecutors revealed on Tuesday.

The Arab employee, 27, and European broker, 33, forged papers of a Dubai executive council and customs authority, pertaining to the purchase of atmospheric water generators worth Dhs455 million.

They forged a bank statement attributed to a national bank. They handed the bogus documents to the Italian businessman, 69, and convinced him the government had awarded him the generators’ tender.

They deceived him the employee had connections in the government and was allegedly capable of letting him win the tender if he paid a commission. They asked for Dhs1, 900,000. He got convinced and paid.

He on Jan.9 learnt he was victim of fraud then iled a complaint at the Bur Dubai Police Station. The broker confessed during interrogations. The Dubai Criminal Court set Nov.18 for the ruling.

In 2016 the businessman heard from a countryman that the broker was dealing with a man strongly connected to the government in matters of projects. “I contacted the broker,” said the businessman.

“I offered to bring devices to extract water from air. The broker arranged a meeting with the employee who accepted the project. He claimed capability to help me win government tenders worth millions.

“He said he would do so in case I paid commissions in exchange, which I accepted. The next day the broker showed me alleged government emails pertaining to the project of Dhs455 million worth of devices.”

The emails showed the devices would be stationed in the Free Zone area and within Dubai airports. “He showed me other papers of the project and promised it to me on condition I paid 5 per cent commission.

“I accepted and started giving him money through transfers at a bank and money shops. I later gave him and the employee more money to inalise the deal until the total clocked Dhs1.9m,” he explained.

The businessman sought to have documents proving the project was in his name. The employee emailed him bogus purchase orders attributed to the executive council and customs authority plus fake bank statements.