DUBAI // Boxer David Haye posted a video on Instagram on Monday thanking his fans for their kind words of support after it emerged that the former heavyweight champion was being held in Dubai on fraud charges.
Briton Haye, 34, is seen filming himself on a beach in Dubai, wearing a New York Yankees cap and a blue and white striped shirt, in the video he then tweeted to his one million followers. “Thanks for all your worrying and concern but don’t stress too much about me. You know, things aren’t that bad,” he said in the 15-second clip.
“A little bit of administrative issues left me here in Dubai for a few days longer than anticipated but it’s getting smoothed out as we speak, and I will be back, probably London or Vegas, soon.”
Haye, whose nickname is the Hayemaker, allegedly wrote a cheque for almost Dh2 million for property in Dubai but it bounced, which is illegal in the UAE.
He was stopped on arrival at Dubai International Airport and he reportedly had his passport confiscated by authorities.
A Dubai Police source said that Haye was taken to Bur Dubai police station and released the same day after posting bail.
He added that a complaint was issued against him by a local developer after his cheque bounced.
Police said cases of bounced cheques could be resolved without being transferred to prosecution if the person is able to pay the sum within one month.
Last year 79,525 cases of bounced cheques were recorded in Dubai, an increase from 68,707 in 2013.
Haye is a regular in Dubai and opened his first gym, Hayemaker Gym Dubai, in Downtown early last year.
Last summer he also attempted to break the world record for the largest boxing lesson at Dubai World Trade Centre but fell narrowly short of the 498 target.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae