Live in UAE? How buying a smartphone can land you in jail!

A 32-year-old worker bought the smartphone for Dh 300, but did not ask for the purchase invoice. Police later caught him, accused him of possessing a stolen smartphone.

He has been sentenced by the court for possession of a stolen phone. Image source: Pixabay

Have you ever bought a swanky smartphone without an invoice just to avoid paying the full amount? If you have, well, dare not do that again, and certainly not if you live in UAE. There is a constant danger for expats of getting caught if they do not follow the rules. This Asian found out to his cost. This man in UAE has just landed into huge trouble after buying a brand new smartphone from someone.

This 32-year-old worker bought the smartphone for Dh 300, but did not ask for the purchase invoice. Police later caught him, accused him of possessing a stolen smartphone.

A Sharjah court then sentenced him to three months in jail and fined hims a whopping Dh 5,000 in absentia for overlooking the legal procedures to buy goods.

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He had been sentenced by the court for possession of a stolen phone, purchased from a seller without obtaining an invoice, reported Khaleej Times.

On Wednesday, the defendant appeared at the Sharjah Criminal Court and challenged the verdict.

He told to the presiding judge, Mahmood Abu Baker that the seller offered a new Samsung phone for a throwaway price of Dh 300, adding he had met the seller near his building in January this year.

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The defendant further said he did not know the phone was stolen. He said he did not know the person who sold him the phone, although confirmed the seller fled the UAE after he sold him the phone.

The buyer was "shocked" when he was arrested by the police for possession of a stolen phone.

The trial has been postponed until July 29.

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