DUBAI: The Dubai Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, widely known as Abu Sabah, from five years to four years in a major money laundering case. While the prison term was reduced, the court significantly increased the financial penalties associated with the case. Under the revised ruling, Sahni will serve four years in prison, pay a Dh500,000 fine, and face deportation after completing his sentence. In addition, he and 32 other defendants were collectively ordered to pay Dh150 million, marking one of the largest fines ever imposed in a financial crime case in the UAE.
Alongside Sahni’s sentencing, the court confirmed strict penalties for other defendants and associated entities involved in the case. Eleven individuals received five-year prison sentences with Dh500,000 fines each, while ten others were handed one-year sentences and Dh200,000 fines. Furthermore, three companies implicated in the laundering scheme were each fined Dh5 million. Authorities also ordered the confiscation of funds, mobile devices, and electronic equipment linked to the operation, underscoring the extensive scale of the criminal network.
The case, described as one of the most complex financial crime investigations in recent years, came to light in late 2024 when authorities uncovered a sophisticated laundering scheme utilizing shell companies and cross-border transactions. Prosecutors emphasized the intricate nature of the network, which facilitated illicit fund transfers through multiple jurisdictions, posing a serious challenge to law enforcement agencies. The investigation revealed that the network not only moved large sums of money but also involved significant digital and logistical coordination.
Balvinder Singh Sahni, a prominent figure in Dubai’s business community and chairman of a major property group, had previously made headlines in 2016 when he purchased the iconic number plate “5” for Dh33 million. The latest ruling serves as a clear demonstration of the UAE’s firm approach to financial crimes, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its financial system and meeting international compliance standards in the fight against money laundering and related offenses.
