Homeless UAE expat jailed for conning equestrian club owners

The Belgian man was given a room to live in by Emiratis but he abused their staff, took Dh45,000 from them and threatened to destroy the club.

DUBAI // A homeless who man converted to Islam conned two Emiratis out of Dh45,000 and threatened staff at the equestrian club they allowed him to stay at.

S F, 34, said he would destroy the club, owned by Emiratis S A and M A, both 37, when they asked him to leave the premises because he caused them several problems, assaulted their workers and sold some of the club’s contents without their knowledge.

The Dubai Court of Misdemeanours heard that the Belgian had told the club owners that he was sacked from his job for converting to Islam so the pair took pity on him and let him live in a room at the club.

After moving in, S F told the two men that he had experience in building and renovating caravans so they handed him Dh45,000 to build two caravans. He took the cash but never delivered the caravans.

The partners then learnt from workers that S F had been assaulting them and that he took six air conditioners worth nearly Dh10,000 and sold them for Dh1,500.

“When I and S A were away we found out that he had been offering the club online for sale by posting his pictures and presenting himself as the owner,” said M A, who reported the Belgian to police after S F told him he had suffered from depression for more than 20 years, making M A think his threats could be serious.

S F denied the Emiratis’ story, saying they told him to sell the A/C units.

“I received a job offer from another club and when I told them I was considering it, because they did not issue me a residency, they maliciously lodged this complaint,” said the defendant.

S F was convicted of overstaying his visa, issuing threats and unlawfully obtaining Dh45,000 and was sentenced to two months in prison.