Seeking Advice: Clearing 10-15 yr old cases (Bounced Cheques & Civil Execution)
I’m currently a resident in Dubai, and I’m trying to help my parents clear some very old legal cases filed against them here between 2009 and 2015. I initially spoke to a law firm, but their retainer is massive, so I am planning to do the legwork myself.
I have a fully legalized and MOFA-attested Power of Attorney (POA) to represent them. However, I do not have NOCs from the banks/claimants. The financial obligations were never officially settled.
The Case Breakdown:
There are two distinct categories of cases I need to clear:
Criminal/Police Cases (10+ years old): Several cases across different police stations for "bounced cheques/insufficient funds" and one older case generically labeled as "fraud."
Civil & Execution Cases (10+ years old): A couple of old real estate disputes and an active Execution File opened by a bank.
My Strategy & Questions for the Community:
For the Criminal Cases: My plan is to take the POA to Public Prosecution/Police and request closure based on the "Lapse of Criminal Action by Time" (Statute of Limitations), since it has been over 5 years, and leveraging the 2022 cheque decriminalization laws.
Question: Has anyone successfully done this DIY without an NOC? Will the prosecutor close these on the spot based on time elapsed, or will they still demand to see bank clearance?
For the Civil/Execution Cases: I know civil debt lasts up to 15 years, and execution files can stay open indefinitely. I'd like to petition the Execution Court via Al Adheed to lift the travel bans due to "lack of action/inactivity" by the bank.
Question: What is the "Sleeping Bear" risk here? If I submit a petition to the court to close the file/lift the ban, does the system automatically notify the bank's legal department? Am I risking waking them up and triggering a renewed aggressive collection attempt?
Has anyone navigated this specific situation themselves using just a POA? Any advice on which typing centers or government branches are best to approach first would be highly appreciated!