Dubai prosecutors warn against letting others use your bank card after young man detained for three weeks
Young man allowed friends to use his card for what he was told was a purchase of games, only to discover it had been used to buy narcotics
Dubai: Dubai Public Prosecution officials have warned residents, particularly young people, against allowing others to use their bank cards or personal accounts, or making financial transfers and deposits without knowing their true purpose.
The warning came as prosecutors highlighted the case of a young man who spent three weeks in detention during an investigation after allowing friends to use his bank card for what they told him was a purchase of games.
The card was subsequently found to have been used to purchase narcotics.
Investigations later established that the young man was not involved in the offence, while the authorities were able to identify and arrest those actually responsible.
Officials said legal awareness was the first line of defence against crime, warning that serious legal consequences could stem from an action that initially appeared harmless, such as sharing a bank card or account or transferring money on someone else's behalf, if the transaction was ultimately linked to illegal activity.
The comments were made during a 'Legal Chats' session held to mark World Law Day, organised by the Community Development Authority in cooperation with Dubai Public Prosecution at Al Warqa Majlis.
The session was attended by Counsellor Dr Mohammed Hussein bin Ali, Senior Advocate General at Deira Prosecution; Counsellor Shehab Ahmed Saleh, Advocate General at the Family and Juvenile Prosecution; and Hamad Al Amiri, Prosecutor at the Drugs Prosecution.
Family's role in prevention
Al Amiri said raising awareness about the dangers of drugs and their impact on individuals, families and society was a fundamental part of prevention efforts.
He said security efforts could not achieve their objectives without the complementary role played by families and the wider community.
A close-knit family that maintains a strong relationship with its children, he said, is better placed to identify their needs and problems and intervene before they escalate.
The family's role also extends beyond prevention to supporting people who use drugs and directing them to the appropriate official authorities to seek help, he added.
Al Amiri also addressed the legal responsibility associated with money used to obtain narcotics, explaining that the law covers not only drug use, promotion and trafficking but also actions that facilitate obtaining drugs.
Some cases, he said, can begin with what appears to be a simple request to transfer or deposit money into an account, when the real purpose of the transaction is to purchase narcotics.
Dr Mohammed Hussein bin Ali cited the case of the young man who agreed to let his friends use his bank card after they told him they wanted to buy games.
The young man was subsequently detained for three weeks while investigations were carried out after the card was used to purchase narcotics.
Investigators later established that he was not involved, while the authorities were able to apprehend those responsible.