Men faked flat ownership to rob tenant, court told

DUBAI // Two men conned a tenant by renting him an an apartment they posted on Dubizzle but did not own, a court heard today.

The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told that the unemployed Briton SA, 26, and his accomplice SK, 37, an Iranian investor, milked their victim of Dh2,000. Prosecutors say they offered to rent him a flat in Jumeirah Beach Residence using forged documents to show their ownership.

They were charged with forging official documents, using them, unlawfully obtaining Dh2,000 and impersonation of real estate agents. They did not appear in court today.

Records show that in May, KM, a 31-year-old Egyptian accountant, was looking for a flat in JBR on Dubizzle.com.

"I saw an advertisement about three flats in JBR, and I called the number, and it was the British defendant who told me that he will give it for rent for Dh80,000," KM said.

After he checked out the flat, the men asked him for a Dh2,000 advance to book the flat, KM told prosecutors. They then e-mailed him the ownership documents.

KM became suspicious and asked them for identification or copies of their residency, but they refused.

"SA claimed his passport was in a safe, whose key was with his wife, who was then outside the country," KM said.

Prosecutors said KM had the documents checked the next morning and discovered they were forged. He then reported the incident to the Jebel Ali police station.

When the men were arrested, forged property documents were found on their computer, records show.

The next hearing will be in November.

salamir@thenational.ae