DUBAI 29 October 2017: Fugitive Pakistanis allegedly conned a tenant out of Dh17,700 after one of them claimed to be owner of a flat in International City, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.
The fugitives sent a painter to the bank to collect the cheque promising to pay him Dh500 for the service.
QA, 27, was arrested and charged with the fugitives of forgery and swindling the victim.
On March 7, SM, 27, Palestinian found an advertisement on a website of a flat in International City. He called the posted mobile number and a Pakistani told him that the flat is open and he can go and view it.
“After viewing the flat, I received a call from a Pakistani who claimed his name was Inaam and owner of the flat. I agreed with him to lease the flat for Dh49,950 and he told me that he will send me a man called Kamal to finish leasing formalities.
The victim met Kamal who presented the ownership certificate of the flat and then issued four cheques in the name of the flat’s owner that the first was of Dh17,700 value.
“He told me that he will authenticate the lease contract with the concerned authorities. That evening, I received a message from the bank informing me of the withdrawal of the amount. I called Kamal and Inaam but none of the two answered my calls. So, I lodged a complaint with the police,” testified the victim.
Police identified the person who collected the cheque from the bank.
QA told the police that he was asked by his country fellowman called Bilal to collect a cheque from the bank for Dh500.
“Bilal, who works in property sector, dropped me at the bank and I got in to collect the cheque against Dh500,” QA told investigators.
Lands Department reported that the ownership certificate was forged and that the so called Inaam does not own any property as per their records.
The court will give verdict on November 14.