Appeals Court Acquits Kannur Native in AED 1.5 Million Fraud Case

Sharjah: The Dubai Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court's verdict that sentenced a Kannur native to one month in prison, a fine, and deportation in a fraud case involving over AED 1.5 million. The Appeals Court found the individual not guilty and acquitted him. The favorable judgment was a result of legal intervention by Salam Pappinissery, CEO of Yab Legal Services.

The individual, who worked as an accountant at a foodstuff trading company under the jurisdiction of Dubai's Al-Muraqqabat Police Station, was accused of embezzling AED 1,685,361.11 between October 2022 and December 2022. The court of first instance, which heard the case, had on November 28, 2024, sentenced him to one month in prison, ordered him to pay a fine of AED 1,685,361.11, and ordered his subsequent deportation.

However, during its review, the Appeals Court found that there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations against the defendant. The court determined that the consultancy report submitted by the complainants was not credible as it lacked a signature, seal, or date. It also noted that the report included amounts from a period before the defendant began his employment, rendering the allegations invalid. For these reasons, the Appeals Court overturned the lower court's verdict and acquitted the individual.