Business | Banking
Imprisonment makes the situation worse
Most of those who are convicted for bounced cheques say their lives have been destroyed and in some cases the families are torn apart
- By Zaher Bitar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:02 July 12, 2009
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The cost of bounced cheques
The cost of bounced cheques
Dubai: Putting people who issued bad cheques behind bars does not solve the problem - in fact it makes the situation worse, say those convicted of the offence.
Speaking to Gulf News, some of those jailed for signing cheques without having enough money in their bank accounts, pleaded to be released from prison and be allowed to try and settle their debts.
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Ali, 38, a Pakistani banker who is serving a sentence for bounced cheque offence in Al Aweer jail told Gulf News: "I didn't kill anyone or have illegal narcotics to be in prison among criminals. The only thing I have done is that I failed to honour bank security cheques for my credit cards."
He has been in jail since December 16, 2008, and will not be free until later this month, after being sentenced for issuing seven bounced cheques worth Dh270,000. Ali said that he spent all the money on day-to-day expenses as life in Dubai became more expensive.
"I had a senior position in one of Abu Dhabi banks with a salary of Dh40,000. But [because of] becoming jobless and [being] in prison, I can't meet any of [my] financial commitments," he said.
Ali, the father of a seven-year-old daughter, said that his life has been destroyed while he has been in jail. His mother passed away and - even worse - his wife filed for divorce and is leaving the country with his daughter.
Another Pakistani inmate in Al Aweer Central Jail, Ahmad, 38, also insisted that he is not a criminal. "Yes, I have financial obligations towards people but I didn't announce bankruptcy or try to flee the country leaving debt behind me." He is serving a 15-month sentence for handing out 20 bad cheques worth Dh1.3 million.
"I have a big marble factory in Sharjah. I have money to collect from the market," Ali said. He asked how he could be expected to collect from his debtors and meet his financial commitments while in prison.
"There is no mercy clause or any human aspect in the law for bounced cheques in the UAE," he said. "Any delay in any cheque payment and you will be considered a criminal and sent to jail to be among murderers."
The father of three children said: "My family is suffering so badly. They hardly get their daily needs from the little savings they have. I don't know how I will survive when I get out after three months."
Another inmate, Ahmad, 42, a person without documents to prove his identity and a resident of Dubai, threatened to commit suicide if he was not released from prison. He told Gulf News: "When my contract was terminated amid the economic crisis I found myself jobless with heavy financial commitments which I was unable to pay on time."
Ahmad is spending his fourth month in prison. "I have been sent to jail only after the first delay in payment [of a cheque]," he said.
"They didn't give me chance to settle my dues. The judge asked me only two questions: Is it the cheque you issued? Is it your signature? Then they sent me to jail.
"My salary was not enough to cover everything including paying my children's school fees. I have five children, four in school, and they need my support.
"My life is meaningless and I am thinking seriously of ending my life. My wife got a divorce while I am in prison and she doesn't allow my children to see me."
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