A Dubai court has handed a one-month jail sentence and a fine of Dh1,500 to an Arab man for possessing money suspected to have come from fraudulent sources. However, the court opted to suspend the jail term for three years, meaning he will only serve time if he commits another offense within that period.
According to a Khaleej Times report, the case stemmed from an incident in October 2024, when a victim reported being scammed online after responding to an Instagram ad that promised English language certificates—such as IELTS and TOEFL—for a fee. He contacted the advertiser via WhatsApp and paid Dh1,500 to a bank account provided, but later found himself blocked on both platforms after repeated delays.
Authorities traced the account used for the transaction to the defendant, who denied any involvement in the scam. He told police he received multiple bank transfers, including the victim’s, at the request of a friend from his home country, claiming he was unaware of any illegal activity.
The defendant presented documents supporting his claim, including a message from his friend and a formal waiver from the victim withdrawing the complaint.
Despite the victim dropping the case, the Criminal and Misdemeanours Court found the man guilty based on the evidence. His sentence remains suspended unless he reoffends within three years.