A Nigerian visitor facing charges of trying to encash fake US dollars has pleaded innocence and denied doing it deliberately since he bought the currency from the black market back in his country.
In the case that came up for hearing at the Dubai Criminal Court, the man identified as JAK, 48, said he had in fact exchanged genuine euro bills before presenting the dollars.
The case dates back to July 29, when JAK went to Alpha Exchange and exchanged €13,650 for which he received Dh65,110. He then presented 48 $100 bills totalling $4,800.
However, the alert official at the foreign exchange counter had doubts when he felt the notes. Upon subjecting them to the usual checks on the fake-detection scanner, he found them counterfeit.
The exchange immediately called the police who arrested the man.
The dollar bills were found to be devoid of the security features that they carry.
Police later testified before prosecution that the bills were checked by three other money exchanges, all of whom confirmed they were fake.
The court adjourned the case till next month.