Dubai Appeal Court Acquits Two in Dh13.5 Million Cheque Breach of Trust Case

The Dubai Court of Appeal has acquitted a businessman and a lawyer in a Dh13.5 million breach of trust case, Gulf News reported. The decision overturned an earlier lower court ruling that had sentenced each defendant to one year in prison and ordered them to jointly pay a fine of Dh13.5 million.

According to the case records, the dispute arose from a $6 million fuel and gas transaction between two commercial companies. When an outstanding balance of Dh13.5 million remained, the businessman deposited a Dh13.5 million cheque with a law firm as security for the debt, authorizing legal action if payment was not completed within four months.

When the four-month deadline passed without payment, the cheque was presented to the bank and returned unpaid due to insufficient funds and a signature discrepancy. The complainant initially returned the cheque to the firm to lodge a police report alleging bad faith, but the parties subsequently engaged in a commercial settlement.

The complainant later initiated a criminal complaint alleging breach of trust against the lawyer and complicity against the businessman. The appeals court accepted defence evidence, including witness testimony and government-attested documentation, confirming the cheque had been voluntarily returned under the settlement. The judges emphasized that criminal liability cannot be inferred solely from a commercial dispute and requires clear, convincing proof.