The Fourth Criminal Court of Dubai has sentenced Indian businessman “B.S.S.”, also known as “Abu Sabah,” to five years in prison, imposed a fine of 500,000 dirhams, and ordered the confiscation of 150 million dirhams. Additionally, he will be expelled from the country after completing his sentence, following his conviction along with 32 others, including his son, for money laundering through a criminal organization.
The case was referred to the public prosecution by the Bur Dubai Police Station on December 18 of last year, with the court’s initial hearing taking place on January 9 of this year.
The court confirmed the seizure of funds and amounts used or transferred in the money laundering operation, totaling approximately 150 million dirhams, alongside the confiscation of electronic devices, phones, and documents seized during the investigation.
As stated in the ruling, the number of defendants in the case reached 33, all charged with establishing and operating a network for money laundering through fictitious companies and suspicious bank transfers. They were apprehended after extensive investigations that included financial data and business partnerships with entities both within and outside the country.
Some defendants were sentenced in absentia, while others appeared in court. Sentences included imprisonment for some defendants for one year along with a fine of 200,000 dirhams. Furthermore, judgments against corporate entities included fines of 50 million dirhams for each of the three implicated companies, along with the confiscation of the funds involved, totaling 150 million dirhams, as well as the seizure of documents, phones, and electronic devices, and expulsion of the convicted defendants from the country.
It is noteworthy that Abu Sabah owns a property management company with branches both locally and internationally, including in the United States and India. He is known for his significant investments and lavish lifestyle; in 2016, he paid 33 million dirhams for a single-digit license plate “5” at a special auction.