أسئلة وأجوبة
How can I get money I lent to somebody back if I have bounced cheques from them?
I am seeking your advice regarding a financial matter that has now escalated to the police. Below is a summary of the situation:
I lent money to a lady for the purposes of her medical centre. We had a personal understanding, and she was supposed to repay me by October last year, but she has continuously delayed payment.
Last month, due to her failure to repay, I filed a case. During this process, I discovered that the repayment cheques were not issued by her personally, but by her husband.
The cheques were drawn against a medical centre that is different from the one she originally told me about. I have since learned that this medical centre has already been closed down.
The cheques are linked to an account in Sharjah, not Dubai, and I am unsure whether this account was active at the time the cheques were issued.
At present, the case is with the police. However, I am uncertain whether her actions will be treated as a fraudulent activity and formally registered as such, or whether the
From what you have explained, your matter goes beyond a simple repayment dispute and has elements of potential fraud, since the cheques were issued from an entity and account that were not disclosed to you at the time of your agreement, and the medical centre linked to them is no longer operational.
This could indicate that you were deliberately misled when advancing the money.
At the police level, the matter usually begins as a criminal complaint for bounced cheques under UAE law.
Depending on the investigation and evidence, the police may escalate the case further as fraud or breach of trust if they establish that the lady knowingly used misleading information and instruments (cheques from a closed entity or unrelated party) to obtain funds.
The next steps available are:
Criminal Route: Continue with the police and public prosecution until charges are framed, which can potentially lead to imprisonment, fines, and/or a travel ban on the parties involved.
Civil Route: File a civil claim to recover the principal amount with damages and interest.
Even if the cheques were issued by her husband or the medical centre, both she and he can be pursued jointly and severally, depending on how the agreement and cheque instruments are presented.
Execution: Once judgment is obtained (criminal or civil), you can move to enforce against their assets, including applying for travel bans, bank account attachment, and property attachment.
To protect your interests fully and ensure that the matter is not diluted at the police stage, it is important to engage formally with an attorney who can:
- Frame your case as fraud in addition to cheque default.
- File the parallel civil claim for recovery.
- Monitor the prosecution’s actions and push for execution of judgment in Sharjah or Dubai, depending on where assets and accounts exist.
I recommend we review all the documents (loan understanding, cheques, any WhatsApp/email correspondence, and the police papers) in detail so that we can take immediate legal steps both criminally and civilly.
You may reach out to me directly on the phone (WhatsApp or phone) to discuss and appoint me as your attorney so that we can move forward without delay and safeguard your recovery.
