A case of organized crime involving a money laundering network has ended speedily, thanks to the Dubai Police. The case, which started only last December and came for hearing this January, has ended with the Dubai Criminal Court sentencing an Indian businessman named ‘Abu Sabah’ to five years in prison, and deportation thereafter, besides a fine of Dhs 500,000.

An exhaustive investigation revealed suspicious and huge money transactions within the UAE and elsewhere, pointing to the involvement of more than 30 suspects and three corporate entities. Each of the suspects, including Sabah, were fined Dhs200,000 to Dhs500,000 each in addition to jail term. They will all be deported after serving their sentences. The corporate entities were fined Dhs5 million each.

Sabah’s assets worth Dhs150 million were confiscated. The court has ordered the confiscation of phones and electronic gadgets used in the crime. Funds totalling Dhs150 million and assets belonging to the criminals have also been confiscated.

Born Balvinder Sahni, Sabah is known for his extravagant lifestyle and lives in a $100 million mansion in Dubai, He owns the property development firm, RSF Group of Companies, in the UAE. He acquired a fancy number plate ‘D 5’ for one of his Rolls-Royce by paying Rs.80 crore last year, according to reports. – editor@nrifocus.com