Abu Dhabi Court Orders Worker Who Pretended to Be Shop Owner to Refund AED20,000
A man who deceived another into believing he owned a fruit and vegetable shop, only to be revealed as an employee, has been ordered by the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Court to repay AED20,000.
Misrepresentation Leads to Investment
Court records show the plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking the return of AED20,000, along with 12% interest, and requested that the defendant be held liable for fees, expenses and legal costs. The plaintiff stated that he had agreed to become a partner in the shop after the defendant falsely claimed to be its owner. In reliance on that representation, he handed over cash in instalments totalling AED20,000. It later emerged that the defendant was merely a worker at the establishment.
Defendant’s Admission and Request for Instalments
When the plaintiff asked for his money back, the defendant refused and began avoiding him. During the proceedings, the defendant appeared before the court and acknowledged receiving the money. He requested that any amount awarded be paid in instalments, noting that part of his salary was already being used to cover his accommodation rent.
Court Ruling on Evidence and Interest
The court explained that, under the Law of Evidence, an admission is a person’s acknowledgement of a right owed to another. It noted that an admission becomes judicial when a party acknowledges before the court a legal fact alleged against him during the case. The court highlighted that the defendant had admitted receiving the money from the plaintiff. However, the court dismissed the claim for interest, stating that the conditions required for awarding it had not been proven.
Final Judgment
The court ruled that the defendant must pay the plaintiff AED20,000, in addition to fees and expenses, plus AED300 in legal costs. All other claims were rejected.
