A GGC citizen scammed Dh300,000 from generous donors by claiming he was raising money to build a mosque, Dubai Police said on Wednesday.
Officers said the older man, who was arrested several months ago, was typical of the con men and beggars who seek to take advantage of faithful Muslims in the month of Ramadan.
Another was a man posing as a beggar with a disability who was found with Dh70,000, police said, without giving further details.
“Fraudsters take advantage of the Holy Month and of people’s charitable spirit,” said Brigadier Ahmed Thani bin Ghalaita, head of Refaa Police Station in Bur Dubai.
“We've seen many people fly to the UAE specifically to prey on people’s good will and take advantage. These are scammers who might be wealthy and healthy.
"Some of them pretend to be amputees, blind or unable to talk. Most of them are Asians and Iranians."
Last month, the Federal National Council passed a new law to target beggars and organised gangs that use beggars, following the arrest of a group of men that exploited dozens of people with special needs to make money.
In the first three months of this year, 232 people have been arrested for begging in Dubai, 61 women and 171 men.
Among those were three women who used their children to beg have been arrested.
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New law targets beggars and organised gangs with stiff fines and jail time
Criminal gang used 35 people with special needs to beg for them
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Last year, 653 people were arrested for begging, including 136 women and 517 men.
“Begging is a crime and punished by the law. Any person who has been arrested for begging is not allowed to enter the country again,” he added.
“People who are willing to donate, they can go charity organisation,” Brig bin Ghalaita.
Police patrols will monitor mosques, residential areas, and shopping centres during Ramadan and the public have been urged to report about beggars by calling 901, contacting police stations or using its smart application.
Brigadier Saeed bin Sulaiman, head of Rashidiya Police Station, said: “In some instances, we've seen beggars find a family home with an open door and enter. We urge the public to lock their doors.”
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5