A Dubai criminal court has ordered a 41-year-old African man to repay AED 3,154,731 after convicting him of using online platforms to deceive and intimidate a woman into handing over millions, Khaleej Times reported.
The defendant was sentenced to five years in prison and will be deported once he completes his jail term. The court also ordered the confiscation of the electronic device used in the crime and the deletion of all digital content connected to the offence.
Prosecutors said the case was built around a pattern of impersonation, where the accused allegedly presented himself as a judicial figure to pressure the victim into making repeated payments. Authorities told the court that the suspect relied on threats of arrest and legal consequences to push the woman into complying.
Investigators presented digital evidence, including WhatsApp exchanges and banking documentation, showing that the victim transferred money multiple times until the total exceeded AED 3.15 million.
Court records showed the first contact happened through a social media page advertising marriage proposals. The man reportedly introduced himself using a false name and fake background information, claiming he was a UAE national working in an offshore field and expressing intentions of marriage—details that were later found to be untrue.
As communication continued, the accused allegedly shifted the narrative and began claiming he was a judge, using that false position to demand money and reinforce threats, prosecutors said.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that impersonating a public official, making threats, and committing online fraud were carried out as part of one connected scheme with a single criminal objective. The court agreed, ruling that the actions should be treated as one offence under UAE law and that sentencing should be based on the most serious charge.
Judges said the evidence presented—covering electronic messages, financial transfers, and investigative findings—was sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt.
