The Dubai Misdemeanors Court has sentenced an Arab national to one year in jail, followed by deportation, and fined him Dhs268,000 after convicting him of defrauding a car owner using a forged cheque. The defendant purchased a vehicle worth the same amount, then exported and sold it to an Asian national in a neighboring country.
The court acquitted the Asian buyer, ruling that he had no knowledge of the fraudulent origins of the vehicle and had purchased it in good faith, based on official documents.
The case began when the Arab defendant contacted the seller, who had listed the vehicle for sale on a website. Claiming interest, the buyer paid with a cheque and completed the transfer paperwork. However, when the seller attempted to cash the cheque, he discovered it was forged. Repeated attempts to contact the buyer failed, prompting the seller to report the incident to the police.
Investigations revealed that the defendant had intended to export the vehicle and sell it abroad. The Asian buyer purchased the vehicle based on official ownership documents, including an export certificate issued by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
During interrogation, the Asian buyer denied any involvement in the fraud, stating he had followed proper legal channels. His attorney, Musa Al Ameri, presented WhatsApp conversations and payment records to support the claim of a legitimate purchase.
Al Ameri noted that his client had a clean criminal record, had lived legally in the neighboring country for over two decades, and worked as an engineer and project manager.
The court found no evidence that the buyer was aware of the vehicle’s fraudulent acquisition and confirmed that he acted in good faith. The Asian defendant was cleared of all charges, while the original buyer, who confessed to the fraud, was convicted.
