Q: Hi there, A person bounced a cheque on me for a considerable sum of money. I filed a police case and it went to court. The judge ruled on the 24th January and the accused was sent to jail. However, there was no part of the judgment compelling the accused to pay the money owed. I believe I can take a civil case against the accused to get the money owed, but I don't know if this is correct or indeed how to go about doing this. I would be most grateful for any adviсe.

Q: I got a call from Jebel Ali police station as I have a bounced cheque there for 60k with FGB and they want me to go there this morning. I have been told there is a new policy that allows bounced cheques cases to be resolved at the police station. When the police officer called me he assured me that it can be resolved there within the day. Is that true? What will happen when I go there?

س: سلام عليكم، هناك مشاكل مع الزوجة وقد كتبت لها شيكًا بقيمة 500 ألف في عام 2016. سافرت لعلاج الوالد وتفاجأت بأنها أودعت الشيك ورجع الشيك لعدم كفاية الرصيد. رجعت إلى دبي وتفاجأت بوجود تعميم عليّ وسُجِنت وخرجت بدفع الغرامة. هناك اعتراف لها على الواتساب بأن هذا الشيك نتج عن خلافاتنا العائلية وليس لمعاملة تجارية. هل تستطيع هي رفع قضية ضدي؟ وهل أستطيع أن أرفع قضية خيانة أمانة لاستغلالها سفري وتقديم الشيك؟ مع العلم أن هناك محادثات واتساب بعد إيداعها الشيك تُشير إلى أن الشيك لخلافات عائلية. هل يُحتَمل أن تنجح قضية خيانة الأمانة حتى تستطيع وقف الدعوى المدنية ضدي؟ وشكرًا!

س: هل جريمة إصدار شيك بدون رصيد تعد مخالفة بسيطة وليست جنحة إذا كان المبلغ أقل من 200.000 درهم؟

Q: A friend of mine has a criminal case in Fujairah for bounced cheque AED 500,000. The criminal case has been filed and a sentence of jail term for 6 months has been imposed by Fujairah First Court in absentia. He would like to know the following: 1) If he reaches the settlement with the complainant, can the jail term be removed even though the first court-imposed 6-month jail? As far as I know, settlement with the complainant works if both accused and complainant made a certain agreement before the first court issue a judgment. However, once the first court imposes the jail for 6 months, the jail term can be reduced or can be changed to fine, but will not be completely removed. 2) Can he be released the next day after settlement with the complaint? 3) What kind of document does he have to receive from the complainant after making full payment?

Q: Hi, I would like to thank you for your insight! Specific question: What would be the consequences of non-payment or settlement in a civil case of a 500 K AED cheque knowing that there is an arrest warrant in the civil case? Besides the accrued interest on the amount, will there be additional punishment for non-payment and evading arrest while being in the country and there is of course a flight ban? Thank you for any information provided! Regards,

س: السلام عليكم، زوج جعل زوجته توقّع على شيك على بياض خلال فترة زواجهم. حدثت مشاكل بينهم ثم تطلقوا. كتب الزوج مبلغ مليون درهم لصالحه على الشيك وتم تقديمه وارتجع الشيك من البنك لعدم توفر الرصيد بحساب الزوجة. هل يستطيع الزوج أن يرفع عليها دعوى شيك بدون رصيد ويكسبها؟

Q: Hello, Is there a limitation on criminal liability with regard to dishonor of a cheque in the UAE?

In the UAE, cheque bounce is a very frequent problem faced by people during their span in the country. It is covered under the purview of Commercial Transactions Law, and legal implications/penalties can be financially severe and daunting for more “serious” offenses. Bounced cheque issues may arise in a variety of commercial transactions, including but not limited to, companies’ exchanges, bank loans, property rents or purchases, and individual transactions.

An interview-format article covering the topic of loans and bounced cheques in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

As the civil and commercial transactions in the UAE have been growing rapidly, and due to replacing cash with other financial instruments such as cheques for big amounts of money, this had caused some hiccups at times leading to criminal and civil consequences on the person who defaults on fulfilling obligations.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.

The provisions of this Decree by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.