The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court ordered a man to repay a woman $20,000, or its equivalent in UAE dirhams, after it was established that he had persuaded her to invest in online trading through a fraudulent Instagram advertisement and received her money.

The court also ordered the man to pay Dh10,000 in compensation for the material and moral damages suffered by the claimant.

The woman filed a lawsuit against the man seeking the return of $20,000, or its equivalent in UAE dirhams. She also sought Dh20,000 in compensation for material, moral and psychological harm caused by his unlawful actions, as well as legal fees and court costs.

In her complaint, the woman said she came across an investment advertisement on Instagram promising high returns through online trading. She then contacted the advertiser via WhatsApp and was persuaded to transfer money to invest and earn profits.

The claimant subsequently transferred the disputed amount in several instalments from her bank account to the defendant’s account. However, when she requested the return of her principal and the promised profits, the defendant repeatedly delayed payment.

The man was later convicted in a criminal case and fined Dh20,000.

In its ruling, the court said the law prohibits anyone from taking another person’s property without lawful justification. Anyone who does so must return the property and account for and repay any benefits or proceeds derived from it.

The court also stressed that a criminal judgment is binding in related civil proceedings when it conclusively establishes that the act occurred, determines its legal character and attributes it to the defendant.

On that basis, the court found that the claimant was entitled to recover her money and ordered the defendant to repay $20,000, or its equivalent in UAE dirhams.

Regarding compensation, the court said the defendant’s conviction for unlawfully taking the claimant’s money conclusively established fault. His actions caused both material and moral harm. The material damage arose from depriving her of the use of her money, while the moral damage resulted from the distress and psychological harm she suffered.

The court ultimately ordered the defendant to pay $20,000, or its equivalent in UAE dirhams, plus Dh10,000 in compensation for the combined material and moral damages, as well as court costs. It dismissed the claimant’s remaining requests.