DUBAI// A gang of six men have appeared before Dubai Criminal Court accused of forging visit visas to European countries in return for cash.
The first accused, a 33-year-old spare parts salesman from Afghanistan, was arrested on November 8 last year after police were tipped off.
Prosecutors say he offered his services via middle men to compatriots in his home country and people in India. Customers would travel to Dubai using valid passports and visas and were provided with accommodation until their fake European visa were made.
Police say that after his arrest the man told them he made the forgeries with the help of five men in the UAE and another who lives in Austria.
“He told us that he takes between US$1,000 to US$1,500 per person while the man in Vienna takes a share,” a police witness said.
The man is accused of forging visas to Germany, Turkey, Austria and South Korea. He was found with two forged British and Afghan passports.
The accused told police about a 37-year-old Pakistani he worked with. Officers found two forged Pakistani passports in that man’s possession when he was arrested.
Both men were charged with forging passports, and the Pakistani was also charged with forging two letters addressed to the Turkish embassy in an attempt to get visas for two customers.
Police seized computers, printers and other electronic devices allegedly used to make the forgeries. They also found hundreds of copies of different passports, personal documents, pictures and credit card details saved on the seized computers.
Four other men, two Pakistanis, an Indian and a Bahraini, aged between 35 and 49, were charged with aiding and abetting the two forgers.
All six men denied the charges against them in court on Tuesday morning.
A verdict is expected on April 24.
salamir@thenational.ae
