AJMAN // Ajman Police were last night guarding three warehouses belonging to an Asian businessman who allegedly issued Dh50 million in bad cheques to various suppliers before fleeing the country. Police said there were concerns the warehouses could be looted by suppliers seeking compensation. Almost four dozen businessmen had complained about bad cheques issued by a man identified as SBR and more were coming forward, an Ajman Police source said.
"It's a big-number fraud scheme," the officer said. "We are handling every detail with sensitivity and the Public Prosecution has asked the police to protect the premises day and night until the case is resolved in courts of law." A group of 20 of SBR's alleged victims camped at one of his warehouses in the Julfa industrial area last week and were advised by police to go to the company's headquarters, where they stayed for about three hours.
Ali Khalid Abu Shaqer, who supplied SBR with electronic items, said he was owed Dh250,000 (US$68,000) and was paid with a cheque that was returned due to insufficient funds. "When I learnt that the cheque had bounced, I was patient because I have always supplied him," Mr Abu Shaqer said. "I only got shocked to learn that he had already fled the country." @Email:ykakande@thenational.ae