Dubai travel agency manager locked up customer with expired visa, court hears



DUBAI // The manager of a travel agency was so angry at a customer for accruing fines by overstaying his visit visa that he held him captive against his will.

The criminal court gave the Pakistani manager, M E, 57, a six-month suspended jail sentence for locking up his compatriot, M T, who fell from a window while trying to escape.

The Dubai Criminal Court heard that M T had hired the company to issue him a visit permit to the UAE. After he arrived, he overstayed his visa and failed to return the calls of the company, which was fined because of his actions.

In September 2012, M E was informed that M T was residing in Al Aweer area. He contacted him and asked him to come to the travel agency office. When M T arrived, M E locked him in and left.

M T tried to escape from the office through the window but fell down to a first-floor balcony. He was found by the cleaner who had a spare key to the office.

“I opened the company’s door to start cleaning and noticed the window open, when I looked down I saw a man on the first floor bleeding,” said S A, a 26-year-old Pakistani. The cleaner called the manager and informed the police.

The manager confessed to detaining M T, saying he had been trying to contact him ever since the visa expired. “He did not renew the visa nor did he pay his fines for overstaying, then he disappeared,” said M E.

salamir@thenational.ae

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With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
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Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

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Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

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