DUBAI // A Pakistani business partner was accused of forging 50 UAE e-visas and charging his countryman more than Dh300,000 for them.
Dubai Criminal Court was told on Monday that in September last year, the 25-year-old defendant approached a fellow Pakistani, 32, and told him he wanted to hire a number of labourers to work at Al Maktoum Airport.
“I told him that I have many family members and acquaintances back home who are very interested in coming to the country to work, so he asked me to provide him with their passport copies to issue them work visas,” said the 32-year-old.
The defendant told him he needed about 100 men and that he would charge Dh7,000 each per visa, but the 32-year-old was able to provide documentation for only 50 men.
“He gave me copies of the e-visas and I checked online and found them, after which I gave him the cash,” said the 32-year-old, adding that the defendant told him that plane tickets would be provided by the hiring companies.
“He told me to inform the men to be prepared for travel.”
But when he double checked online for the e-visas he could not find them so he went to Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department where he was told the visas were for visits, not work.
The man then contacted police and reported the incident.
On September 26, police arrested the defendant and he allegedly confessed to making the forgeries and defrauding the victim.
During police questioning, it was discovered that after making a hard copy of the visit visas, the defendant deleted the word visit and added the word work instead.
The man had paid the defendant Dh305,000 from family and friends who were hoping to come to Dubai.
In court on Monday, the defendant denied charges of forgery, use of forged documents and fraudulently obtaining Dh305,000.
A verdict is expected on January 16.
salamir@thenational.ae
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