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Emirati waives off Dh100,000 to contractor, who ‘embezzled’ cash to treat his ailing mother

Abu Dhabi - Financial hardship had forced the contractor to stop construction work

An Emirati man’s milk of kindness was on show, as he waived off Dh100,000 that a contractor had 'embezzled' in a bid to treat his critically-ill mother back home.

Initially, the contractor had received a token amount as an advance payment to build the man’s house in Abu Dhabi.

Details provided by public prosecutors showed that the contractor had started constructing the house’s foundation.

However, a few weeks later he stopped the construction work owing to financial constraints.

The man gave Dh100,000 in cheque to tide over the contractor’s pecuniary hardship.

The man filed a complaint with Abu Dhabi Police against the contractor because he failed to complete the construction work on time and also handed him a bounced cheque, which is a penal offence in the UAE. He demanded that the contractor pays the money that the latter owed to him in cash.

Public prosecutors failed to reconcile the matter and the case was referred to a court.

The contractor told a court during hearing that Dh100,000 was used to treat his critically-ill mother back home.

“My mother was critically-ill and I didn’t have the money to pay for her treatment. I decided to use my client’ money to settle her hospital bills. However, I didn’t want to embezzle his money,” the defendant told the court.

The Emirati man was moved by the contractor’s tragic situation and decided to withdraw the legal complaint against him.

The court followed suit and also withdrew the criminal charges against the defendant.

The contractor has carried out his contractual obligation and completed the pending construction work.