Tax evasion: A Kannur native who was fined 2.5 million dirhams was acquitted by the Sharjah Court.

The Sharjah Criminal Court yesterday fined two Malappuram natives two and a half million dirhams for selling tobacco products without paying tax in Sharjah.

The prosecution had requested the court to charge and punish both of them under approximately twenty articles of criminal procedure for non-payment of excise tax of 2,099,426 dirhams and value-added tax of 191,912 dirhams on the goods. Thus, on 18/10/2023, the Sharjah First Instance Criminal Court found both of them guilty and imposed a fine of two and a half million dirhams for non-payment of excise tax and two hundred thousand dirhams for non-payment of value-added tax. However, the police also made Hamza, the second wife, a party to the case, after he was found and arrested inside a house in her name. Hamza, who had lived here with his family two months ago, had since rented out the house.

However, the second accused, who was completely innocent, approached many people to prove his innocence, but to no avail. Finally, he approached Salam Pappinissery, CEO of Yab Legal Services in the UAE, and asked him to convince the court of his innocence.

Understanding their situation, Salam Pappinissery took up the case and registered an appeal case. Hamza's lawyer submitted documents and other relevant documents to the court, arguing that his client had no connection with the seized goods, that the house he had built was in his client's name, and that it was rented out as usual. The prosecution was unable to resist these arguments or present any evidence. Through this, the court was convinced of the innocence of Hamza, the second party in the case, and they were released as innocent.