A man forged his wife's signature and official documentation to seize sole ownership of their Palm Jumeirah apartment, a Dubai court heard.
The Russian citizen, 60, allegedly used the fake signature to grant him power of attorney, which authorised him to issue a new title deed in his name for the property, which was jointly owned by the couple.
Dubai Court Criminal Court was told he also falsified Russian consulate and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stamps as part of the plan.
“We shared ownership of the apartment, but in April 2018 I discovered that my name was no longer on the title deed,” the man's wife, 41, said in evidence.
She was told that she had authorised the power of attorney, which her husband used to change ownership.
When she visited the Russian consulate to make inquiries, she was told that it had not stamped such a document.
On August 14 the same year, she was provided with an official letter from the Russian consulate stating that it had not stamped any power of attorney authorisation documents under her name.
The woman then lodged a report against her husband with police in Dubai.
He was subsequently charged with forgery, use of forged documents and illegally seizing ownership of an apartment.
The man is being prosecuted in his absence.
A verdict will be issued on August 31.
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
2019 ASIA CUP POTS
Pot 1
UAE, Iran, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2
China, Syria, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar, Thailand
Pot 3
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, India, Vietnam
Pot 4
North Korea, Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Turkmenistan
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
