Counterfeit dollar dealers lose Dhs600,000 case

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

Three men implicated in a bid to sell fake $100, 000 must see out their prison terms and pay a Dhs200, 000 fine each, the Appeals Court ruled. The African salesman, 24, visitor, 27, and unemployed countryman, 39, possessed with the intention of circulating the counterfeit dollar bills worth Dhs367, 200, prosecutors revealed in court on March 5.

They offered them for sale at Dhs223, 000 (less than the market value). An Asian man (RF) accepted to purchase them. The trio presented him two authentic $100 bills to prove they had authentic dollars.

A source alerted the police about it. Police zeroed in on them as they were executing the deal on Jan.6. They resisted arrest and assaulted an Emirati lieutenant, warrant officer, corporal and Omani policeman. The Criminal Court convicted them of all charges but cleared the unemployed countryman of battering cops. The court caged them for six months plus deportation and a Dhs200, 000 fine each. They appealed in vain.

The salesman’s workmate, 27, arrested in connection with the case was caged for six months plus deportation. He claimed he transported the Asian man to the scene without knowing the trio’s plan to con him. The salesman, the visitor and the countryman contended they were the ones who contacted and summoned the police to the scene. The Appeals Court overlooked their arguments and upheld the penalties. On the record, the Emirati lieutenant said a source revealed the defendants faked dollars they intended for sale and were planning to hire Arab imposters to pose as cops, raid the place and take the buyer’s money.

The Asian man (RF) accepted to buy them without knowing they were fake. He and the defendants agreed to meet at a Nahdah tower’s parking lot around 6pm. They came in a car driven by the countryman.

The car bore a number plate belonging to another. The Asian man arrived in a car driven by the salesman’s workmate. The salesman and visitor stepped out the getaway car, approached and checked the Dhs223, 000.

The salesman went back to the getaway car to fetch the dollars. He returned carrying a plastic bag. Police stepped into the deal. “The salesman and visitor assaulted and injured me,” complained the lieutenant.  The Omani policeman said, “One of them beat me.” The Emirati corporal said, “The salesman’s workmate pushed me against his car’s door.” The warrant officer said, “The salesman and the visitor injured me.”

The gang resisted in a bid to escape but the police team subdued them. Police seized a bag full of dollar bundles from the getaway car. A report from the department of forensic evidence confirmed they were fake.