Tuesday, Jul 14, 2015
Dubai: A lawyer and a manager have been jailed for three years for attempting to defraud a bank of $100 million (Dh367 million) using a forged cheque that they claimed to have obtained from an Asian president’s daughter to build an autism hospital in Dubai.
The Bulgarian advocate and the Russian female manager submitted the $100 million managers’ cheque to the local bank in August 2013 before they were informed a week later that it was forged.
The Dubai Misdemeanours Court convicted the advocate and the manager of forging the cheque and attempting to swindle the bank to the tune of $100 million using the forged document.
The defendants denied their accusations before the court contending that the cheque was not forged.
According to Tuesday’s ruling, the duo will be deported following the completion of their punishments.
The Bulgarian’s lawyer argued in court that the original cheque was not submitted to the bank, but was a photocopy.
“The photocopy was submitted to the bank to inquire whether the cheque could be cashed or not. My client admitted that the cheque was his and he took it from the president’s daughter to set up the autism hospital. The suspects did not commit a crime and no damages were inflicted on the bank,” he argued.
The Russian’s lawyer argued in court that his client took the cheque from the other defendant and did not know that it was forged.
“Had she been aware that it was forged, she wouldn’t have gone to the bank to start the process of cashing it and starting the autism hospital,” the lawyer contended.
Court records said the Russian woman manages a company in Sharjah, and after she met the Bulgarian advocate they agreed to deposit the cheque in her company’s account.
The bank’s security officer testified that the Russian defendant visited their branch on Shaikh Zayed Road and handed them the cheque.
“As part of security and banking procedures we contacted the issuing bank and notified them about the cheque. Later, we were informed that the cheque was faulty. We suspended the process and reported the matter to the police who asked us to call the woman and tell her to come to the bank to collect the cheque. Then she was arrested,” he claimed.
The Russian defendant claimed that the Bulgarian gave her the cheque to deposit in her company’s account as part of an agreement to set up the autism hospital.
When questioned by prosecutors, the advocate denied claims that the cheque was forged.
“I agreed with the Russian after she informed me that her company was connected to several developers and constructors who could help build the hospital. The bank requested the original cheque. The manager told the bank that there were still some incomplete documents pertaining to the cheque. I had an agreement with the Russian before giving her the cheque … her company was supposed to manage the charity project [hospital]. The issuing bank informed the local bank that the cheque was forged because the president’s daughter has a secret account … the cheque wasn’t forged,” the advocate testified to prosecutors.
The Russian contended before prosecutors that the Bulgarian contacted the issuing bank in the Asian country and he was told the cheque was original.
Records said the issuing bank [in Asia] reported to Dubai Court that the cheque was faulty.
The primary ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
By Bassam Zaza Legal and Court ?Correspondent
Gulf News 2015. All rights reserved.
