Families were conned out of millions of pounds in life savings after handing over cash for luxury seaview apartments in UAE to a 'shyster developer'. At least 25 British buyers handed over up to £100,000 each to Iranian developer Frank Khoie, whose company was supposed to oversee the building of the properties. Khoie, who defaulted on the United Arab Emirates deal despite more than 700 international buyers paying deposits worth £50million, was jailed in 2009 after a £9.5million cheque to purchase land for the La Hoya development bounced. Among the British investors were Geoff Land, who lost £100,000, and pensioners Richard and Marilyn Chandlder, who lost £30,000 of savings that was meant for their retirement.
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Geoff Land's dreams of moving to a seaview apartment in UAE were ruined
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His family paid £100,000 to a 'shyster developer' for the luxury beach home
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But Iranian developer Frank Khoie was jailed after £9.5m cheque bounced
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At least 25 Brits paid millions of pounds for the properties near Dubai
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Retired British couple Richard and Marilyn Chandler lost £30,000 to Khoie
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Their dreams for a retirement home in the Middle East were ruined
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More than 700 people worldwide paid £50million in deposits on the homes
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Khoie was jailed in 2009 but was released after just a year behind bars
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Mr Land was forced to work in Saudi Arabia for four years to support family
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They will finally get their money back after a landmark legal settlement
The pair, who are now in their late sixties, wanted a place in Middle East to be nearer to their son, who lives in @placeholder, so they and other other family and friends could visit