Dubai Civil Court has ordered a woman to repay AED 2.298 million to a man who had given her the money to purchase a residential unit and register it in his name. Instead, she fraudulently misappropriated the funds.

According to Emirates 24/7, the woman had previously been sentenced in a criminal case to three months in prison, fined an amount equal to the misappropriated sum and ordered to be deported from the UAE.

Court records showed that the complainant transferred AED 2.298 million to the defendant’s account so she could purchase an apartment for him and register the title deed in his name. However, she failed to fulfil her obligation and kept the money for herself.

The Criminal Court initially acquitted the defendant. However, following an appeal by the complainant, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling and sentenced her to three months in prison, imposed a fine equal to the misappropriated amount and ordered her deportation.

The defendant then challenged the ruling before the Court of Cassation, but her appeal was rejected and the criminal judgment became final. The complainant subsequently filed a civil lawsuit seeking to recover the money and claim statutory interest.

During the civil proceedings, the woman claimed that the funds she received represented unpaid salaries, commissions, bonuses and other amounts owed to her for work carried out for the complainant and companies associated with him.

She also requested the appointment of an accounting expert to examine the bank transactions, determine the source and purpose of the transfers, and calculate the amounts she claimed were owed to her.

The defendant further alleged that she and the complainant had been in an unregistered marriage and asked the court to summon a witness to support her claim.

However, citing the case documents and the final criminal judgment, the court said the offence, the defendant’s liability and the amount misappropriated had already been established. It stressed that the Civil Court could not issue findings that contradicted a final criminal ruling on those matters.

The court also said the defendant had provided no evidence that she had repaid the amount or settled the debt.

The Civil Court ultimately ordered the woman to repay AED 2.298 million, together with annual statutory interest of 5 per cent from the date the lawsuit was filed until full payment. She was also ordered to pay court costs and legal fees.