ABU DHABI // Eleven Nigerians forged credit cards and entry permits as part of an operation to defraud people, the Court of Misdemeanours was told yesterday. Only two of the defendants were present in the Abu Dhabi court. Court officials said the others fled the country before they could be arrested. They are being tried in their absence. Prosecutors said the men worked as a gang and used electronic techniques to commit fraud.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty and asked for a copy of their file. They were denied bail. The amount of money involved in the alleged crime has not been disclosed. Details are expected to come to light next week when the men present their defence. It could not be confirmed yesterday whether the men also face a state security court case over the alleged forging of entry documents. If the men are convicted they will face a minimum six months in jail followed by deportation. They also may be fined depending on the amount of financial damage.
An international arrest warrant will be issued through Interpol for the missing defendants if they are convicted. Police recently launched a campaign against electronic fraud and warned people against scams, which predominantly originate from Nigeria. hhassan@thenational.ae myoussef@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The Disaster Artist
Director: James Franco
Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan
Four stars
Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013