Yacht builder's appeal over forgery charge in Dh4 mln vessel case upheld

DUBAI // A yacht builder accused of forging documents used in a court battle over a Dh4 million vessel had his acquittal upheld by the Appeals Court yesterday.

B G, 41, from Iceland, became embroiled in a legal battle with M J, a 41-year-old Emirati, when he was seeking a local sponsor for his yacht-building company about four years ago.

The Emirati offered to sponsor the company in return for a Dh4m purpose-built yacht. The boatbuilder delivered the yacht but became frustrated when the Emirati did not start sponsorship proceedings. In 2010 the boatbuilder lodged a lawsuit against the

Emirati for keeping the yacht despite reneging on his promise, and the Abu Dhabi court ordered the Emirati to pay B G Dh4m.

However, following the verdict the yacht-builder was charged with using a forged document during the court battle.

He was acquitted of the forgery charge by the Dubai Criminal Court and the Appeals Court upheld this verdict.

A civil case filed by the Emirati man was also dismissed.

salamir@thenational.ae