ABU DHABI // A legal fight over a Dh1 million cheque written in 1997 may be timed out because it was drawn up so long ago.
The man who wrote the cheque was sentenced to six months in jail, but the Appeals Court is now re-examining the case on the orders of the Cassation Court.
The man bought a piece of land from a woman in 1997, paying her Dh350,000 in cash and writing her a cheque for Dh1million.
However, when the woman tried to cash the cheque it bounced. The man was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay Dh1m plus compensation. When he paid this amount he asked to be cleared. The case then went to the cassation court, which rejected the previous verdicts because such cases expire after five years from the cheque date.
Now, in the appeals court, the woman's lawyer said that while it was worth Dh1m in 1997, it is now worth more than Dh12m. Additionally, he said, the man sold the property for Dh8m.
Despite this, the lawyer said the woman would be willing to pay the man back Dh1m and more if he would agree to register the land under her name.
The appeals judge reminded both sides that the cassation court had ruled the legal duration of the cheque had expired before adjourning the case to August 9.
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Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
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Staff: 200
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Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
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