Pair who allegedly conned victim in Dh17m business deal are on trial for death threats

Pakistani and Emirati are accused of threatening to kill a Pakistani and his family if he did not pay them Dh1m after the trio had been involved in a business deal worth Dh17m.

DUBAI // Two men who allegedly conned another out of Dh17 million denied threatening to kill an entire family if they were not paid Dh1m, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.

Pakistani accuser A J, 40, told prosecutors that in 2012 he was introduced to Emirati defendant O A, 33, and Pakistani defendant B K, 36, through an old friend.

His friend, identified in records as Jamsheed, convinced him that the two men would help him to open his own financial bidding company but, in return, they would be partners.

“We agreed that I will provide the capital for the company, which was Dh17m, and I collected it from a number of businessmen in Pakistan,” the victim said.

Only Dh2m from the total amount was his, he said, while the rest was from the Pakistani businessmen.

In April last year, he said the two defendants met him in a garage in Al Aweer, where he was introduced to two men who “told me that I will be killed and my family as well if I didn’t pay money to the defendants”, A J said.

Police were notified and O A and B K were referred to court on charges of issuing threats to kill the victim if he did not pay them money.

The two accused denied the allegations. A verdict is expected on September 16.