DUBAI // Four men who kidnapped the nephew of a man they said conned them out of Dh37,000 were jailed for a year each.
Bangladeshis S L, 30, S M, 24, and M A, 35, said a man had taken their money to issue them with work visas in Dubai but instead fled with it, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
The three defendants, who appeared in court two years ago, denied charges of kidnap but the fourth defendant, M J, was not present at the time and he remained at large until being arrested this year.
On June 8, 2013 the four lured the nephew into a car then took him to a house in Satwa, where he was locked up for four days.
The victim, R A, whose age and nationality were not given, said his kidnappers told him he would remain locked up until his uncle repaid the money he took.
“They told me my uncle took their money to issue them work visas but did not do and never returned their money,” said the nephew.
He said he was allowed to make one phone call, to his mother, to tell her about his ordeal and that none of the men assaulted him.
A report of the incident was sent through Dubai Police’s website but records did not mention who sent the report.
Officers managed to release R A after tracking down the defendants to the flat where he was being held.
Three of them were arrested at the time, while M J remained on the run until this year. No details of his arrest were available.
S L, S M, and M A were convicted in January last year and were deported after they served their jail terms. M J will also be deported after completing his jail sentence.
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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
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
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
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
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.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
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3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
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Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
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Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
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Funds raised: $22 million
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