Dubai: Two Cameroonians on Thursday admitted they tried to swindle an Emirati woman but denied the charge of possessing counterfeit US dollars .
Prosecutors accused the defendants —, 29-year-old M.C. and 37-year-old visitor, Q.M. — of tricking the victim, a businesswoman, into investing Dh800,000 in a bogus multinational company. A third suspect evaded arrest.
"No, I did not bring fake currency," said Q.M. when they appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
According to prosecutors, the defendants introduced themselves to the victim and made a presentation about their multinational investment company using bogus documents as well as an unidentified number of fake $100 bank notes.
After convincing the victim to invest her money with the company, the defendants allegedly made her affix her signature and thumb print in an electronic device. They also allegedly gave her a user name and password to a website where she could check on her investment online.
Website
"When I returned home, I logged on to the website and noticed that my money had been invested in the company's records. The same person used to come and collect payment from me… until one day I was informed over the phone about a black box left beside my car. I went there and found a bag which contained blank papers. Immediately I informed the police who arrested the two Cameroonians in a sting operation," claimed the businesswoman in her prosecution statement.
A policeman testified that when police arrested Q.M. they seized in his possession a chemical substance which the defendants will allegedly use to turn the blank papers into real American dollars.
Presiding Judge Bal Abed adjourned the trial until June 14.
