Dubai Court of Appeal upholds five-year jail term, raises penalty against Balvinder Singh Sahni, also known as ‘Abu Sabah’, in one of UAE’s biggest financial crime trials
A Dubai court has increased the penalty against Indian-origin businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, widely known as Abu Sabah, to Dirham 150 million (about Rs 360 crore) in a major money laundering case. The Dubai Court of Appeal confirmed his five-year prison sentence, raised his personal fine from Dirham 50 million (Rs 1.20 crore) to Dirham 150 million, and ordered his deportation after the completion of his jail term, reported ndtv.com.
Authorities allege Sahni and his associates established shell companies to channel illicit funds through suspicious transfers within the UAE and abroad. Court documents revealed that investigations into his businesses began in December 2024, leading to the discovery of financial transactions tied to Bitcoin between October 2018 and January 2019.
The National reported that approximately Dirham 180 million (Rs 432 crore) belonging to UK-based drug traffickers was moved anonymously via Bitcoin into five digital wallets owned by Sahni. His associates then withdrew the money in cash and delivered it to a rented luxury apartment in Dubai. Sahni allegedly took a 4% commission before transferring the funds into accounts held by three of his companies.
The case, involving 33 defendants, has been described as one of the UAE’s largest financial crime trials, with investigators uncovering a massive money-laundering network linked to organised crime groups in the UK
The first hearings of the case began in January 2025. Authorities ordered the confiscation of Dirham 150 million believed to be proceeds of crime, along with electronic devices and other seized assets, Gulf News reported.
Who is ‘Abu Sabah’?
Balvinder Singh Sahni, nicknamed ‘Abu Sabah,’ was once a prominent figure in Dubai’s elite circles, known for his lavish lifestyle and flamboyant persona. A collector of luxury cars, he gained global attention in 2016 after paying Dirham 33 million (Rs 79 crore) for the coveted single-digit Dubai licence plate “5.”
Often seen in a royal blue kandura paired with a baseball cap and sneakers, Sahni was a familiar face on Dubai’s social scene. His social media showcased luxury shopping sprees, exotic animals, and extravagant possessions.
Born into a wealthy family in Kuwait, Sahni initially built his fortune in the spare parts and tyre trade before moving to Dubai in 2006. His rise as a high-profile businessman has now been overshadowed by his conviction in one of the region’s largest financial crime investigations.
