Man Awarded Dh40,000 After Being Falsely Accused of Forging Signature

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Cases Court has ordered a man to pay Dh40,000 in compensation to another man after he was falsely accused of forging a signature, resulting in criminal proceedings against him.

 

The case arose after the plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking Dh150,000 in compensation for material and moral damages he claimed to have suffered. He also sought legal interest of 9 per cent from the date the case was filed until full payment, in addition to legal costs, expenses and lawyer’s fees.

 

The plaintiff alleged that the defendant had deliberately insulted him and unlawfully implicated him in criminal reports and legal proceedings. According to the claim, the defendant filed a criminal complaint accusing him of forging his signature on a document that exempted him from late-payment fines.

 

The allegation resulted in criminal proceedings being initiated against the plaintiff, exposing him to the consequences of a criminal investigation over an offence he maintained he had not committed.

 

The case took a decisive turn when forensic examination was conducted on the original document. The forensic evidence report concluded that the disputed signature actually belonged to the defendant, rather than the plaintiff.

 

Following the forensic findings, the Public Prosecution administratively dismissed the complaint filed against the plaintiff after the allegation was found to be false. The dismissal effectively cleared the plaintiff of the forgery allegation that had triggered the criminal proceedings.

 

The plaintiff subsequently turned to the civil court, arguing that the false accusation had caused him both material and moral harm. He maintained that being subjected to criminal proceedings on the basis of an unfounded allegation had damaged his reputation and caused him distress and other losses.

 

After examining the evidence and circumstances of the case, the court awarded Dh40,000 in compensation. The amount was lower than the Dh150,000 originally claimed by the plaintiff, but the ruling nevertheless recognised his entitlement to compensation for the harm caused by the false accusation.

 

The case highlights the potential civil consequences of making unfounded criminal allegations. While individuals have the right to report suspected offences to the authorities, knowingly or recklessly making false accusations can expose the complainant to legal liability where such conduct causes demonstrable harm to another person.

 

The ruling also underlines the importance of forensic evidence in disputes involving allegedly forged signatures. In this case, the forensic examination of the original document played a central role in establishing that the allegation against the plaintiff was unfounded and ultimately supported his claim for compensation.

 

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