UAE businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim has arrived back in Dubai following a court ruling over alleged unpaid debts of $2million to a property investor.
Fahim arrived at Dubai International Airport in the early hours of Saturday, on flight EK134 from Moscow’s Domodedevo Airport. Speaking to Arabian Business shortly after leaving the airport, he said: “The very fact I am here in Dubai talking to you shows that what was written earlier in the week was completely false.” [
click here to see exclusive pics
]
On Wednesday a UAE newspaper claimed an arrest warrant had been issued for Al Fahim for failing to pay a $2million debt related to a property development he was involved in. Fahim says no such warrant was ever issued, and that he will be taking legal action against three of its journalists.
“What was written was very damaging, so I have cut short my trip in Russia for two reasons: first to settle property dispute, and secondly to bring proceedings against those individuals who printed the original story saying there was an arrest warrant out for me. People must be held accountable for their actions. I am being held accountable for mine, they must be for theirs.”
Fahim has also strongly disputed that he is liable for the $2m debt, saying that the property in question was sold by him to a third party, who then continued to take money from investors under the guise of his name. “It’s a complicated matter but I have taken no money from anyone on this project, hopefully I can help the other parties to sort this out in a few days,” he said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to Arabian Business regarding allegations of the arrest warrant issued against him, Al Fahim said on Wednesday: “There is no arrest warrant, this is a court order that was made against me and two other people, and I intend to settle the matter immediately. Some of what has been written is pure rubbish, especially the claim there is an arrest warrant. I will be in Dubai on Friday, I have cancelled all my other business engagements abroad so I can return to settle this matter.” [
click here to read more…
]
Al Fahim also hit back at media reports, telling Arabian Business: “I am the victim here.”
Asked why the warrant was issued, he said: “First let’s be clear this is actually a civil case and not a criminal case, and one that has been running for some time. And it is quite straightforward: I owned a tower but sold the plot of land to another party. He paid me AED90m ($24.5m) for this but the cheque bounced, and he has since been jailed. However, this person has continued to sell the development by using my name, effectively claiming I am involved.
“It is rubbish – I am not involved, I am the victim here. This person has continued to receive monies from customers, basically claiming he is Sulaiman Al Fahim.” [
click here to read more…
]
Follow us on
