How can I get back the value of a bounced cheque?

I have someone who gave me a cheque which bounced and was returned from the bank for no money. I filed a complaint with Dubai police but for more than five months have had no results. I finally talked to the police and they told me to go and wait for him in front of his home and call them once I saw him so they could come and arrest him. I came to know that he changed his residence but I finally managed to get his new address and locate him. I called the police on the spot and they came and arrested him. I went to check with them what to do next. Two weeks later they told me he was released on bail, he put his passport and someone guaranteed him as well. No one spoke to me during that period and still no one called me. This had been dragging since September last year. I would like to know what to do next. I want to take this further to at least get the value of my cheque. Can you please advise me what legal action I can take? Please, I have been chasing this since September with no result.

I would like to clarify to the questioner that he should have followed the complaint that he had made against the one who issued the cheque and reviewed the Public Prosecution, as the latter may have referred the accused to the criminal court, as the Public Prosecution informs the complainer neither about the status of the case nor the date of referring the case to the competent court as the public prosecution is not required legally to do so. Therefore, I advise the questioner to review the public prosecution as well as the competent courts in order to make sure of the status of the case. If the accused has been referred to the criminal court, the questioner shall apply for such court and demand his right of the full amount of the cheque or to file a case before the civil court if the case before the criminal court is over.

Readers’ questions answered by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Shaiba Advocates and Legal Consultants