Q: I was cheated out of Dh36,000 in a housing scam in October 2013. I rented a one-bedroom unit in a villa on Muroor Street but it turned out that the local Abu Dhabi man who I had rented from was not the owner and the documents he gave me for the villa were false. I fought court cases and won, with the man serving jail time for the criminal offence. The Civil Court ruled he has to pay me Dh39,997, including legal expenses. However, by the time the civil case ruling came, the man had served his sentence in the criminal case and was out of jail. The police later told me that he is a serial offender and they are looking for him again in relation to another case. The ruling ordered the Central Bank in April last year to freeze his bank accounts and also to auction off his cars and deposit the amount recovered with the court, so I could be paid. However, until now, nothing has been recovered from him. What should I do now? Will I ever get my hard-earned money back?
A: Regaining money from criminals can be a long and drawn-out process as they will often try everything to avoid paying out or having their assets seized. However, the law is on your side and you will eventually get your money back. You should follow up with the judge overlooking the execution of verdicts. He is authorised to contact all related institutions and bodies to have the sentence executed and the money collected through confiscation of the man’s assets and selling them at auction. If the man does not comply with the court’s orders, his name will be on travel ban lists at all entry and exit points in the country and will be arrested when he tries to leave. It’s just a matter of time before he is caught and your money is returned.
Q: My father recently died and at the time of his death, he was a visitor in Dubai. He had some credit card debts in the UAE from when he was a resident of Dubai. What is the procedure in such a situation? Do I need to tell the bank about his passing and is his family liable for the debt? He had no will and no estate in the UAE.
A: Unfortunately, yes, his family is liable for the debt and you should contact the bank to tell it of your father’s passing. It is then up to you and the bank to reach agreement on how the debt is repaid. If your father owned any assets, regardless of whether he left a will or not, the assets can be sold in an auction if the bank files a case against you.
If you have a question for our lawyer, please email it to newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line “Know the law”.
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European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
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World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.