7 held for selling forged documents

The Abu Dhabi Police have arrested seven people allegedly for forging official documents including lease contracts, utility bills and cash receipts with intent to make illegal transactions at government departments.
The members were attempting to sell the documents at a price ranging between Dh3,000 and Dh10,000, a top officer said.
 Major Hamdan Saeed Al Mansouri, Director of the Bani Yas Police Station at the Peripheral Regions Directorate, said that the gang was arrested recently after receiving information that a number of residents (of Arab and Asian nationalities) are selling forged official documents and records.
"Preliminary examination revealed that the documents were forged using electronic devices and sophisticated software in order to use them as legal documents," he said.
As part of a plan established by the Criminal Investigation Branch at the Bani Yas Police Station an undercover officer approached the suspects to buy the forged documents.
Three suspects, identified as A. F. (33), A. M, (48) and A. A. (31) were arrested red-handed and forged documents were seized.
The suspects confessed to working as middlemen between the gang's mastermind and other accomplices.
Later, rest of the gang members including the 38-year-old mastermind, M.F., R.A (29), A.S. (23) AND M.F. (22) were arrested in possession of the devices and tools used in the crime.
The suspects were referred to the public prosecution, along with the forged lease contracts, utility bills, cash receipts and other documents, in addition to the devices used in the forgery, which proved the involvement of a number private sector facilities, including photography studios.
The Director of the Bani Yas Police Station called upon the public to attach legal documents with their official applications and to avoid falling prey to individuals who seek illegal profit.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com