Two Asian nationals have been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay significant damages after selling a stolen Lamborghini worth Dhs1.86 million to a Dubai-based company. The transaction, which took place in May 2025, involved a payment of Dhs1.2 million in cash and a bank transfer of Dhs660,000. Shortly after the purchase, the company was alerted by authorities that the vehicle was listed as stolen and wanted internationally by Interpol, leading to the car’s immediate seizure.
Following the discovery, the company initiated criminal proceedings against the sellers. During the trial, the defendants confessed that they did not legally own the vehicle and were aware of its status as stolen property. The Dubai Criminal Court subsequently convicted the duo, sentencing them to two months in prison and ordering them to pay a joint fine equivalent to the car’s value. The court also mandated their deportation from the UAE.
The criminal verdict became final after an appeal was dismissed and no further challenge was filed with the Court of Cassation. With the criminal matter settled, the plaintiff company pursued a civil lawsuit before the Dubai Commercial Court, seeking a full refund of the purchase price along with Dhs500,000 in compensation for material and moral damages, plus legal interest.
The Commercial Court ruled that the original sales contract was void, noting that the sellers had no legal right to transfer ownership of the stolen vehicle. Relying on the findings of the criminal judgment, the court ordered the defendants to refund the full Dhs1.86 million to the company. Additionally, the court awarded the firm Dhs30,000 in compensation for material damages, though it rejected the claim for moral damages, citing a lack of sufficient proof. The report also notes that the company received a notification from the competent authorities to hand over the car, after it was revealed to be reported stolen internationally, where it was seized and included in the list of wanted vehicles, the following month after the purchase. The report also notes that the court also concluded that the sales contract was void and confirmed the company’s right to recover the amount it paid after it was proved that the sellers obtained Dhs1.86 million without a legitimate reason.