Men defrauded Al Boom of Dh1m, Dubai court hears

DUBAI // Two men conned the businessman Abed Al Boom - who has been convicted of nearly Dh1 billion worth of fraud - into paying them Dh1 million using a forged official document, a court heard this morning.
The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told that RM, 40, Lebanese, forged a letter from the UAE Central Bank to convince Al Boom and an Emirati lawyer identified as AA that his client, JA, could provide them with Dh1bn to settle their financial problems.
Al Boom, an Emirati, has been found guilty of breaching the trust of 3,706 investors and embezzling Dh960 million. He is free on bail while his appeal is heard
RM and JA, Egyptian, 47, are charged with unlawfully obtaining Dh1m from the AA and Al Boom. The incident happened in 2009, according to prosecution records.
Records show Al Boom paid Dh850,000, and the remainder was in a cheque from AA. After taking the money, they stalled and failed to provide the promised cash, records show.
Both men denied the charges.
"I request that AA provide a copy of the cheque to the court so I can prove to you through the dates that I am innocent," JA said.
AA testified that while Al Boom was in Al Muraqqabat detention centre, he met RM, who convinced him he was representing a powerful and wealthy man who could provide the cash to settle his debts.
"He told him he could provide him up to Dh5bn," AA testified, adding that RM asked for a Dh1m commission.
When JA and RM started stalling, AA reported them to police.
The next hearing will be on October 17.
salamir@thenational.ae