Dubai's Safi Qurashi cleared of bouncing $2.7m cheque

Posted by: V4 vendetta Friday, 15 February 2013 9:28 PM[UAE] - Italy

I did n't see any apology to Mr Safi or any compensation for destroying his business, his reputation or his family life!
Who will pay for the injustified 2 years in jail?
any comment on these points?

Posted by: Paddy Thursday, 14 February 2013 12:35 PM[UAE] - UAE

Arabian Business should be applauded for highlighting that Dubai cheque law jails innocent people and that Safi Qurashi was one businessman who did something about it.

Social injustice is an important topic for the business community, especially as hundreds of people still remain in prison. Safi?s continued belief in Dubai and documented business activity since his release, should act as an inspiration to business people everywhere.

Of course he has not made the front page and there are a million other things to report on, but well done to Arabian Business for good reporting.

Posted by: Patrick Meehan Thursday, 14 February 2013 11:45 AM[UAE] - UAE

Arabian Business should be applauded for highlighting that Dubai cheque law jails innocent people and that Safi Qurashi was one businessman who did something about it.

Social injustice is an important topic for the business community, especially as hundreds of people still remain in prison.

Safi?s continued belief in Dubai and documented business activity since his release, should act as an inspiration to business people everywhere. Of course he has not made the front page and there are a million other things to report on, but well done to Arabian Business for good reporting.

Posted by: Ulevpri Wednesday, 13 February 2013 4:19 PM[UAE] - UAE

The whole thing is so wrong. He signed a cheque and everyone knows what this means! He should not walk free, he should be made responsible for signing cheques knowing there is no money on his account. If such people walk free now, we can just cancel the rules for cheques and bouncing cases, since it seems you can walk free after signing. If its like this cheques have no value anymore... you sign it, but you walk free even if it is bouncing! everyone can give a security cheque but this means nothing anymore! Totally wrong sign and judgement!

Posted by: Telcoguy Saturday, 16 February 2013 3:50 PM[UAE] - UAE

@Andy this may be shock you. It is very hard to keep a credit card when you no longer have an address in a country. I know very few banks that would give that benefit, I am glad that you got that working but that is far from being normal, or even possible, for other people

And BTW credit cards were just an example. You need to provide postdated cheques for your rental (and you may find yourself locked if the landlord decides to cash them and run without paying community fees)

Nor many other commercial activities where you need to commit your money months ahead of receiving a service that you may never receive

But please, do not deter that from claiming that we are all a bunch of desperate ignorants. That, and not legislation carefully tailored towards one goal , seems to be the root cause of the problems

Please explain us how you can conduct not just business, but a normal life without giving postdated cheques (or paying cash in advance for everything) We will all be happy to learn

Posted by: Andy Friday, 15 February 2013 4:56 PM[UAE] - USA

@ Telcoguy,

This is not ignorance. I take it that you are not a local and you must be able to get a credit card in your native country. My native country of which my credit card is issued is the US. I managed to apply for my credit cards before I left the US to Asia. Here in Asia it is not easy to get a credit card either for expats but I would not sign a blank check over to them just to get them to issue me a credit card. If one does this then one is either desperate or a fool to do so. Like how the casinos want 20% in cash advance fees. They take advantage of desperate people who need money.

I personally would not apply for a credit card in the UAE if they required me to sign over a blank check to them. The laws and system is set up in their favor and not yours so the person accepting their credit card with their terms is either ignorant or desperate if they have to sign over a blank check because the law clearly states that you are responsible for any amount that you sign for.

Posted by: Telcoguy Friday, 15 February 2013 4:11 PM[UAE] - UAE

@Andy, have you ever lived in the UAE? Seriously, if you can get a credit card here without signing a cheque please let me know.
And given that people can only get paid in a local bank I do not think it is possible to get a credit card abroad... I guess everybody here with a credit card is a desperate fool. Good that there are smart chaps like you around
Yes you can refuse to have a credit card. You can also refuse to take a job here, not sure how this is relevant
Standard business practices here involve using postdated cheques, do you have other experience here that you can share or are you talking out of deep ignorance?

Posted by: Andy Friday, 15 February 2013 1:03 PM[UAE] - USA

@Dave,

We all know that the local laws are written in favor of the locals and not the expats so with this in mind if you do write a local a check or anyone a check as an expat then you must consider that money gone and paid for. Violation of a contract is one thing and bouncing a check is another thing in the eyes of the local courts and laws. I saw hotels offering to apply for visas for visitors to Dubai with a 5000 Dhms. Security deposit which will not be returned or refunded to you until you leave the UAE and send them a copy of your exit stamp in your passport. In the UAE it is always pay first and fight for your rights after lol..

If a Bank wants a blank check from you for a credit card then I would not give them one as we all know how our word holds up in court after. The bottom line is that the rules and regulations are set up to have you squeezed by your testicles.

Posted by: Dave Friday, 15 February 2013 11:29 AM[UAE] - USA

Andy, your statements show little or no experience in the Gulf. When it comes to cheques being bounced, it does not matter as to what any contract says. A cheque bounces, and that is enough to send the signer to jail once the "complainant" has registered a case with the bounced cheque notice.
There was a case in the papers, where a man paid a cheque for renting a factory. The owner of the factory refused to rent it put and then cashed the cheque, and the last update was the cheque signer arguing in the court that since he did not get the factory, his cheque shouldnt have been cashed.
Contracts etc are all considered but only after the signer of the cheque spends some time in jail/court
As for the comparison with the USA, that is laughable too. Most banks ask cheques for credit cards here. Similarly, many people have to take loans because of the absurd system of paying 6 months or 1 years rent upfront, they need to sign a cheque before they get that loan as well.

Posted by: Red Snappa Wednesday, 13 February 2013 2:31 PM[UAE] - Ireland

Hopefully this case will highlight the changes required in the legal system.

For example, the encashment of undated guarantee cheques, for the full original amount that is to be repaid by installment, are a completely unfair weapon and is probably a criminally fraudulent act in its own right by the very nature that it is usually a considerably reduced amount that is still outstanding.

These cheques are not issued with any premeditated intent to deceive, of course you do not have an equivalent amount in your bank account, otherwise why would you elect to repay by installments. In fact, you quite likely will never have that amount at any one time in the account. Therefore, reversing the roles, is it not a fraudulent act to encash that cheque, knowing that the money is not in the account and the amount owed is significantly less than the face value of the cheque, or in fact the encasher is not entitled to it at all.

There are many wise judges around the world who would agree!