"419" in Dubai

Dubai: A conman who posed as the son of Ghana's ex-president and conned a Kuwaiti businessman out of Dh1.7 million has been jailed.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 36-year-old conman, I.B., and his 37-year-old compatriot collaborator, M.C., to a year in jail each. They will be deported after serving their term.

Police heard the 37-year-old told the Kuwaiti businessman he was the son of Ghana's ex-president.

He said he had around Dh55 million in a safety box in Abu Dhabi and needed money to get it. He said he desperately needed the money and would give him 40 per cent of the cash.

The victim was also shown forged official documents which were issued overseas.

I.B. also showed the victim money tied with a nylon cover and told him they needed to buy a special chemical substance to "untie the bundle."

The victim met I.B. in a Al Rigga Street hotel and handed him the money. He told police after he realised he had been swindled.