The director of a contracting company, MWZ, is accused of cheating project owners of hundreds of thousands of dirhams. The 49-year-old Jordanian claims to have used the amount he collected from various owners to sign deals for various constructions.

YAA, an owner of a project, claims to have paid MWZ Dh275,000 to provide finishing of villas on a 15,000 square metre plot in Al Muhaisna 3 area.

YAA also claims to have given MWZ power of attorney to spend the amount on the project.

Denying the accusation, MWZ testified before the prosecution that he paid Dh225,000 on June 10,2008, and Dh50,000 on June 29, 2008, to a building materials supply. He claims to possess receipts of the payments, which were made in his office at Al Riaqqa road in Dubai. “[That] company and other companies I have dealt later proved to be bogus firms.

I could not find the addresses of those companies I have signed agreements with,” he claimed.

MWZ said: "I also signed a contract on January 7, 2009, with a company and paid Dh50,000 as first installment for 5.7 per cent rate of execution of the construction of a villa."

He added that he had made preparations to start construction work on December 24, 2008, but the work was stopped on February 2, 2009. However, according a letter obtained from  the Municipality dated January 27, 2009, no work was started on the subject land.

To this, MWZ claimed the main cause for the delay in execution of the project was due to repeated changes in plans. He added that the power of attorneys he had obtained from villa owners stated that he was completely free to deal with consultants and contractors on their behalf.

The accused, however, confessed before the Misdemeanour Court, presided by Judge Khalil Abu Shamma, to having received Dh275,000 at his office in Al Riqqa area in Dubai.

MWZ also confessed to receiving amounts against official receipts in other cases pending hearing in the court.

Sameera Gerghash, the plaintiff's lawyer told the court that the defendant started delaying construction after he received the money. She said as per the agreement the defendant should finish all villas and hand over the keys.

She asked the court to appoint an expert to check the status of the projects as well as the amount spend on these projects.

The Dubai Courts of Misdemeanour adjourned the case for the defence until the month-end.