DUBAI: A former UAE minister was acquitted yesterday by the Dubai Appeals Court of charges of defrauding a Lebanese businesswoman.
The misdemeanors court in February sentenced Khalifa Bakheet Al-Falasi to two years in jail for taking control of an IT company that belonged to his Lebanese business partner.
The business partner’s sister filed a case against the minister claiming that he deceived her and taken over her late brother’s stake and partnership in the IT company. She also filed a civil suit against the defendants asking for 500 million dirhams in compensation.
A three-judge panel presided by Judge Mustafa Al-Shennawi cleared the former minister and two business associates of the charges. The two other defendants are the company’s general manager, an American, and financial manager, an Indian.
Dubai Attorney General Essam Al-Humaidan said the public prosecution would decide within the legal period of 30 days whether or not to appeal the verdict at the court of cassation.
The UAE government had relieved Al-Falasi from his Cabinet post as soon as his case was referred to court, lifting his immunity from prosecution. Al-Falasi had been a minister of state without a portfolio in the federal government.
