ABU DHABI // A man who forged Haj permits and contracts for 100 pilgrims will spend five years in prison, the Criminal Court has ruled.
M, an Emirati, told pilgrims who missed the UAE’s official Haj missionary deadline that he worked for regional agencies and could provide permits.
When the pilgrims arrived at Mecca, they were dismayed by conditions that contradicted their contracts. They were placed in rooms of 10 while they had agreed to a maximum of four.
The contracts and permits he gave them had a forged UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments stamp. When pilgrims arrived in Mina they were taken to the Iranian mission’s tents.
Despite M refunding the Haj fees, they complained to the UAE’s Haj office and they discovered that their documents had been forged by the defendant.
He denied his charges earlier at the Criminal Court, arguing that he was simply a volunteer coordinator for agencies.
hdajani@thenational.ae
