Dubai resident duped of Dh53,000 annual rent by fraudster duo

Dubai - Defendant confesses to charges during interrogation; accomplice still at large

A man, who duped a tenant of Dh53,000 worth of annual rent for a flat they wrongfully offered for leasing, has been sentenced to six months in jail.

The Court of First Instance was earlier told the 32-year-old Pakistani man and his runaway accomplice forged a power of attorney that one of them had been entrusted by the flat owner to give it for rent, and managed subsequently to convince the complainant to pay them Dh53,000.

The pair was 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, has been found guilty of fraud and forgery charges. The court ordered his deportation and that the forged documents be confiscated.

"About one-and-a-half year earlier, I read an ad online about a flat for rent. I called the contact person and spoke with the runaway accomplice," the 38-year-old Indian complainant said.

"I went and checked the flat situated in the Silicon Oasis on April 28. It was composed of a bedroom and a living room. The following day, I met the same man at a real estate office in the International City, which he claimed belonged to him. I issued him one cheque worth Dh53,000 to be withdrawn by the detained defendant."

However, the runaway suspect took the cheque and encashed it shortly later. He failed to bring the tenant a tenancy contract signed by the owner the next day. "As he kept stalling, I went to the real estate office and there I was told the accused had given me a flat which he did not own and did not have any right thereon. I filed a complaint at Al Rashidiya police station," the complainant told the prosecutor.

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 during interrogation to the charges.

The court ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai