UAE | Crime
Graft suspect claims confession was under duress
A director has claimed that he was pressured into confessing to prosecutors about his involvement in a case relating to financial irregularities to the tune of Dh42 million at Tamweel.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:04 September 14, 2009
Dubai: A director has claimed that he was pressured into confessing to prosecutors about his involvement in a case relating to financial irregularities to the tune of Dh42 million at Tamweel.
"My confession and statement to the Public Prosecutors is false and untrue. I was under pressure and scared because I was concerned about the security of my son and wife. I had no other choice but to defend my family. Authorities concocted my statement," alleged the 54-year-old Uzbek director when he defended himself and pleaded innocent before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday.
Yesterday's corruption case is the second of its kind involving Tamweel that has come up for hearing at Dubai Courts since July, and involves five executives
The Public Prosecution charged two former Emirati executives of the company, 38-year-old A.S., former deputy executive, and 44-year-old A.N., ex-vice-president, with abusing their power as public servants and unlawfully pocketing around Dh24 million by selling land owned by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT).
According to the arraignment sheet, the two executives were also charged with making profits of Dh18 million through the unscrupulous sale of land in Dubai Maritime City.
Prosecutors also charged the director, R.R., and two Pakistanis, 57-year-old manager, W.G., and 40-year-old merchant, M.Y., with aiding and abetting the Emiratis with the sale of properties in JLT.
R.R. pleaded: "Your honour, I would like to retract my confession before the prosecutors because it was taken under duress."
Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad ordered the hearing's secretary Essam Mohammad to register R.R.'s claim.
When the judge faced the suspects with their charges, the Emiratis pleaded, "Not guilty." The Pakistanis and the Uzbek said: "No!"
The defence lawyers then moved the court for bail. Towards the end of the session, Presiding Judge Abdul Jawad rejected the bail requests and adjourned the case until October 5.
According to the Financial Control Department's report concerning the alleged financial irregularities in Tamweel, A.S. (who owned a private company) used W.G.'s company (a real estate firm) as cover for booking and selling land and properties in JLT, making an unlawful profit of Dh13.7million in the process. The money was reportedly shared with A.N.
The report also claimed that A.S. followed the same modus operandi for a property transaction in Dubai Maritime City and unlawfully earned Dh16 million, which he shared with A.N.
The broker (W.G.'s company) used R.R. and W.G. to conspire with A.S. to make an illegitimate profit of Dh23 million from a property deal in JLT, which was shared with A.N.
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Last minute ID rush is on
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Car seats for children: Unsafe at any speed
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
