The Al Ain Court for Civil, Commercial, and Administrative Claims has instructed seven individuals to return Dh439,000 to a man they defrauded through a fake bank message. The court found that the defendants tricked the plaintiff into updating his bank account after he received a fraudulent text and a phone call from someone posing as a bank employee, allowing them to access his confidential information. The plaintiff requested repayment of the stolen funds, legal interest, and Dh50,000 for emotional and psychological distress. The defendants had previously been convicted in absentia in criminal proceedings and sentenced to jail and deportation. The court awarded the victim Dh30,000 in damages for the harm he suffered. Evidence in the civil case detailed the amounts transferred to each defendant, who were notified but failed to appear in court. The court emphasized that taking another's property without lawful reason is illegal, and anyone who receives funds unlawfully must return them. The repayment amounts were specified individually for each defendant, with joint responsibility for Dh30,000 in compensation, plus legal fees and costs.
