Dubai Police Nab Real Estate Agent on the Run

source Khaleej Times

DUBAI — A real estate agent, on the run for nearly a month, was caught by Dubai Police for allegedly issuing dud cheques worth Dh203 million to high 
end clients.

Ahmed Thani bin Ghalita, Director of the anti-crime department of Dubai Police said, about 39 people, including top soccer players, had lodged complaints against the man, a British citizen of Pakistani origin.

Ghalita said the complainants alleged that the man had sold them property, for which they gave deposits, and when the deals fell through, the deposits were not repaid as guaranteed. “The police received information that the suspect, who is a holder of a British passport, was trying to escape from the UAE. The police launched a search for the suspect who worked as a real estate broker and who was wanted by Interpol for issuing dud cheques to clients, including soccer players of various teams,” he said.

“The police was informed by employees that the suspect was not living with his children and that he changes his appearance and was not using his mobile phone to avoid being caught by 
the police.

“The suspect was stunned when he was arrested by the police in a coffee shop in the Murraqabat area — he thought that the police would not recognise him. The suspect has been on the run for 25 days.”

Ghalita said the suspect, using his work in the real estate company, dealt with clients through the email and online resources so as to avoid providing evidence for an office or home address.

Ghalita would not say which company the man was working for or which property or properties he claimed to be a broker for.

The department of anti-crime, established by the Dubai Police on September 2008, has approved a number of ways to curb crime, including the investigation of bounced cheques of large sums.

It was a part of this initiative that Dubai Police tracked the 39 complaints issued at various police stations, investigated and arrested the man for issuing bounced cheques worth Dh203 million.

During the first half of the current year the police recovered thousands of dirhams by investigating on dud cheque cases and arrested 278 wanted people.