DUBAI // A man who attempted to rape his friend but was arrested when she locked herself inside the bathroom and called the police was today sentenced by the Dubai Criminal Court to three years in prison.
SM, a 38-year-old businessman from Pakistan, invited his compatriot SS, a 35-year-old beauty salon employee, back to his apartment at International City after the pair had spent a day out together on October 21. The pair were friends and often met at the weekends.
The woman went to use the toilet and when she returned the man was lying on the bed. He pulled her and tried to make her have sex with him but she resisted.
The woman then pretended to relent to his demands but asked to visit the toilet once more. Once inside she locked the door and called police.
An officer then called the man and kept him on the phone until a patrol car arrived at the apartment to arrest him.
The man begged the woman to change her story and tried to bribe her to do so but was unsuccessful.
He will be deported after completing his jail term.
salamir@thenational.ae
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
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5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
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10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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