Dubai: A businesswoman has been accused of swindling and embezzling Dh1.4 million from a doctor in a deal involving the purchase of yachts.
Prosecutors charged the Syrian businesswoman, F.I., 51, who manages a navigation and maritime cargo company, of deceiving the Iraqi doctor, M.H., and embezzling him of Dh1.4 million after convincing him to buy two yachts and a boat.
When F.I. appeared before the Dubai Misdemeanour Court, she pleaded not guilty. According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the defendant and other suspects, who remain at large, convinced M.H., 46, to buy two yachts and a boat at a seemingly cheap price.
Prosecutors said the suspects handed over copies of documents claiming ownership of the vessels. They also mailed him five photos of the boats. Convinced, M.H. paid the money to the suspects.
In his police statement, M.H. accused F.I., her brother, a British man, and a Cypriot of conning him. "I first met F.I. and her brother in a restaurant on Al Rigga Street. The brother claimed he was the captain of a boat and that they owned a navigation and maritime cargo company in Al Hamriya Port. They also alleged that their offices were located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
"They showed photos of the boat that they were convincing me to buy. Later, they introduced me to the Briton and the Cypriot."
Boats to be auctioned
"They said the vessels were in Cyprus and supposed to be sold in an auction for a competitive price of Dh1.5 million. They claimed that the deal would conclude within two months. I signed cheques in F.I.'s name. After two months, I didn't collect the vessels… Some of them had left the country… so, I contacted F.I., who claimed that she withdrew the cash and gave it to her brother. The Briton also told me that the brother had taken the money," the doctor claimed.
"When M.H. asked me about my brother, I informed him that he was in Turkey. I had nothing to do with the deal. The first time that I met the claimant was in a coffee shop when he phoned me and asked me to try to solve the dispute amicably," F.I. told prosecutors.
