Driver locked up over Canadian visa scam

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A driver who swindled a jobseeker’s money and later mugged him for demanding it back has lost the case at the Dubai Appeals Court. The Asian defendant, 43, swindled money from the Indian jobseeker, 23, with the prospect of finding him a job in Canada. He later sprayed him with a blurring substance and robbed him, records showed.

Prosecutors revealed the defendant identified himself with a false name and nationality and claimed he owned a travel office in Dubai. He convinced the victim would find him a Canadian employment visa.

He asked the victim to pay CAD10, 000 (Dhs27, 500) for the visa, part of which had to be paid in advance and the rest to be allegedly deducted from the victim’s monthly salary after joining work in Canada.

To gain the victim’s confidence, the defendant showed an Indian ID to prove he was also Indian. The victim paid Dhs14, 000. The defendant later mugged him and stole his Samsung smartphone and Dhs1, 000. He confessed during police and prosecution interrogations. The Dubai Criminal Court imprisoned him for six months plus deportation. The Appeals Court has upheld the punishment.

On the record, the victim was in India surfing the internet for job opportunities. He posted his personal data and qualifications on Facebook. An ‘employer’ (the defendant in disguise) corresponded with him.

“He claimed he had a travel office and that he was bringing jobseekers from India to Dubai on visit visas then processing for them employment visas in countries including Canada and sending them there.

“He told me the visa was for CAD10, 000. I arrived at the Sharjah Airport on Dec.10. He showed me his ID. He took me to Al Satwa area and showed me a man with who I would travel,” narrated the victim.

“The man reiterated the same claim. The defendant asked me for Dhs15, 000 down payment. I handed him some Dhs14, 000 that I had. The next day he showed me a paper that he alleged was my visa.

“It bore my name, my photo obtained from my passport and a seal of the Canadian Government. I doubted because I thought the visa would take 90 to 120 days. He stopped me from photographing it. The victim complained that the defendant sprayed his face with a liquid. “I saw movements of shadowy objects. I regained my vision only to realise my Dhs1, 000 Samsung Galaxy and Dhs1, 000 cash were taken.”

The defendant was nowhere to be seen. The victim confirmed he was the one who decamped with his valuables.