An unlucky entrepreneur who bought an elite license plate in Abu Dhabi on an unsecured check received three years in prison.
A businessman who pleaded guilty to fraud and writing an unsecured check in the amount of 31 million dirhams (US $ 8.5 million) for the prestigious Abu Dhabi number 1 license plate received three years in prison.
The 33-year-old UAE citizen acquired a special license plate in November 2016 at an auction in Abu Dhabi.
Authorities managed to detain the fraudster after a complaint from the auction organizers that he wrote out an unsecured bank check to buy a room dedicated to the fiftieth anniversary of the Abu Dhabi government.
Prosecutors accused the man of fraud and counterfeiting a check.
During the interrogation, the fraudster admitted that he wrote out a check, fully understanding that he did not have such an amount in the bank.
"The accused stated that he planned to resell a rare number and make money on it, then he could pay the cost of the check to the organizers of the auction," the prosecutor said.
However, the procurator said that a citizen can resell a license plate purchased at an auction only after paying the full amount of the transaction. Otherwise, it is considered fraud.
An Abu Dhabi court previously sentenced a fraudster to three years in prison after being convicted of fraud and forgery of a check.
The man appealed to the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of the trial court.
The auction, which resulted in 99 million dirhams, was held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi police on November 19, 2016 at the Emirates Palace Hotel and was timed to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the Abu Dhabi government.
The fraudster offered the highest price for the coveted sign among several applicants, bidding began with 1 million dirhams. After the auction, a citizen said that he bought it in honor of the rulers of the country, who worked tirelessly to make the UAE the number one country in the world.
He noted that he was ready to pay any amount to get a number.
