‘Dead’ Pakistani Man Comes Back to Life in UAE

In a recent news story, it seems that a Pakistani businessman has taken the phrase “you’re dead to me” a little too seriously. On July 19, 2019, the news of the businessman and MQM member Chaudhary Hayyab Arif Kamboh’s death broke out. The tragic loss was mourned by friends and family alike, only to find out two years later that Kamboh was alive and well in Ajman, Dubai.

Hayyab Arif, who is the owner of H&MZ Global Worldwide, had allegedly died in a road accident in Sharjah, and there was an outpouring of social media posts mourning his loss. Pictures appeared where Hayyab Arif was seen lying, covered in the traditional white burial sheet, with cotton balls in his nostrils.

 

 

Hayyab Arif’s younger brother Mian Zaryab, 20, also took to Facebook on August 7, 2017 to express his devastation over the loss. The post read:

“Travelling to Bahrain for a project… Initiative of this project was taken by my elder brother Chaudhary Arif Hayyab Kamboh. I’m missing him a lot today because today I have to handle all of these things on my own… after his death I feel alone in my life…”.

 

The Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also extended their condolences to the family of the deceased on July 21, 2017, praying that he be granted the highest ranks in heaven. On their official Facebook page MQM Television wrote:

“RIP Chaudhary Hayyab Arif Kamboh bhai. Our deepest condolences to the family of this ideological worker of MQM from Lahore who passed away on July 19th in a tragic road accident in UAE. May Allah grant him highest level in heaven and give his grieved family enough courage to bear their loss.”

 

 

Back from the dead

However, as it turns out, friends and family need grieve no more. Recently, several Indonesian and Indian exporters have come forward with incidents of having lost fruits, vegetables and grains worth approximately several million dirhams to H&MZ Global Worldwide, which is the food item trading corporation launched by Hayyab Arif. The company was initiated 14 months after Hayyab Arif’s alleged death in Ajman.

The list of items lost and companies who have fallen prey to H&MZ’s scams keeps growing. The exporters were promised to be paid within 24 hours, and were made to ship several tonnes of their products to H&MZ.

Presently this list includes:

• Shri Siddhivinayak (rice: $93,000);
• JK Export (coconut: $39,000);
• Dakshah Overseas (bananas: $18,071)
• Mahakal (onions: $20,034);
• Bintang Persaka (wood charcoal: $31,041)
• K. International (red chillies: $35,700);
• CV Tri Mitra Persaka (coconut: $12,375)
• Bhavya Enterprises (rice: $17,750).

 

“Chasing payments, not pavements”

Dry chilli supplier Vijay Ruparen, flew to UAE after he had supplied dry chillies worth Dh130,000 but was not paid his dues. He recalled his interaction with H&MZ, saying:

“Hayyab Arif sent his manager with a bouquet of roses to pick me from the airport. He drove me to Ajman and put me up in a fancy hotel… I was impressed. The following day, I met Hayyab Arif at his office. There was nothing remotely to suggest all of this was a charade. Secure in the belief that I was dealing with a reputed company, I handed the bill of lading to Hayyab Arif which enabled him to release the shipment from Jebel Ali Port. He promised to pay the same evening. That day never came. I spent days chasing him but he refused to see me or respond to my calls”.

Ruparen has recently reported his case to the Ajman police.

Akshay Laljibhai, a Gujrati exporter who provided Hayyab Arif two containers of red onions valued at approximately Dh65,000 shared Whatsapp voice notes of his conversations with Hayyab Arif after he refused to pay Laljibhai his owed dues.

Hayyab Arif can be heard mocking, abusing and insulting the exporter, and even began to intimidate him.

“He treated me like royalty but once he got the shipment he discarded me like a used teabag. When I ask for my payment, he mocks me,” Akshay commented.

In the audio notes, Hayyab Arif also says

“Yes, I scam people… this is my business.. A bigger crook than me is yet to be born. I cherry pick my victims and prey on greedy dogs like you. This is what I do for a living. You were a fool to fall for me”.

He also mentioned that this was the reason he did not return to Pakistan.

While the authenticity of the conversation cannot be verified, a report by the Gulf News states that Hayyab Arif has admitted that it was his voice.

Hayyab Arif’s response

When asked about the news of his fake death, Hayyab Arif commented that he was unaware of MQM’s reasoning for writing the post. He also stated that the post from his brother’s account was made by a hacker, and the picture of his deceased body was from a theatre play that he performed.

Speaking of his extortion of countless exporters, Hayyab Arif defended his decision to not pay the vendors, saying that their products were of poor quality and said that he has documents which could prove his claims.

When asked about his refusal to pick up calls and change of number, Hayyab said that there were outstanding dues on his previous SIM card. He also stated that it was his “personal matter”.

Birds of a feather…

Similar scams were being allegedly pulled off by H&MZ’s partner companies Saya International FZE and Soha Arif Foodstuff Trading.

The exporters are unable to pursue legal action, as the police authorities redirect them to the courts and for a majority of these companies, the pursuance of an international case, as well as the monetary assets required to pursue it, are not possible.

Just like his brother, Mian Zaryab also denied to answer any questions about his associations with Hayyab Arif or H&MZ, saying that his name on the business cards was also a conspiracy against him and his affiliations were his “personal matter”.