Duo cheat Dubai tenant of Dh53,000

dubai — Two men allegedly duped a tenant of Dh53,000 in annual rent for a flat they leased out illegally. One of the defendants is still at large.

The Dubai Court of First Instance was told that the 32-yearold Pakistani man and his compatriot accomplice forged a power of attorney that was supposed to have been issued by the flat owner. Subsequently, they convinced the complainant to pay them Dh53,000.

The duo is accused of fraud and forging a general power of attorney which they falsely claimed had been issued by a notary public at the Dubai Courts. The defendant, who is in detention, denied fraud and forgery charges in court.

“About a year and a half ago, I read an advertisement online about a flat for rent. I called the contact person and spoke with the defendant’s accomplice,” the 38-year-old Indian complainant said. “I went and checked the flat in Silicon Oasis on April 28. The following day, I met the same man at a real estate office and issued him a cheque worth Dh53,000.”

The accomplice encashed it shortly later. He failed to bring the tenant a tenancy contract signed by the owner the next day. “I went to the real estate office, where I was told the accused gave me a flat which he did not own and did not have any power thereon.”

A letter from the notary public department at the Dubai Courts said the power of attorney used by the defendants was forged and it was not issued or certified by their department. The defendant admitted to the charges during interrogation. The court will pronounce a ruling on November 29.