Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, widely known as Abu Sabah, has had his prison sentence upheld at four years in one of the UAE’s major money laundering cases. He will also be deported after serving his sentence.

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High-profile case involving 33 defendants

The case involved 33 people and has been called one of the largest financial crime cases in the UAE. Investigators said Sahni and others used shell companies and suspicious transfers to move funds within and outside the country. They were convicted of money laundering as part of an organised group and for possessing items linked to illegal funds.

 

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Fines and asset confiscation

Authorities also ordered the confiscation of AED 150 million in criminal proceeds, along with computers, phones, and other items seized during the investigation. Three companies connected to the case were fined AED 50 million each.

Earlier sentences and appeals

The Criminal Court had previously sentenced Sahni and 32 others, including his son. Eleven defendants were sentenced in absentia to five years, while others received shorter terms and smaller fines. Some appealed, arguing the case was about illegal cryptocurrency trading rather than money laundering.

The Court of Appeal rejected most appeals but changed the fine structure: all defendants must now share the AED 150 million payment.

Who’s Abo Sabah?

Abu Sabah became widely known for his lifestyle. He reportedly spent over AED 100 million on VIP number plates, owned a gold-plated mansion on Palm Jumeirah furnished with Bentley furniture, and had an Olympic-sized swimming pool. His high-profile spending drew significant public attention before the case.