Dubai: An investor and his employee, who claimed to be an arms dealer, have been accused of terrorising a businessman by threatening to kill him and his son.

The Indian businessman was a partner in a business deal with his compatriot investor before they had a dispute in June 2017.

Once the businessman discovered that the investor [his partner] had allegedly committed Dh20 million worth of financial irregularities he decided to take legal action, according to records.

It is believed that the investor and his employee, also an Indian, visited the businessman in his office at the Dubai Business Bay area to discuss the dispute.

During the meeting, the Indian investor and the employee indulged in a heated argument with businessman during which they cursed him. The Indian employee was also said to have told the businessman that he is a well-known arms dealer who is capable of killing him and his son in India or Pakistan.

The businessman reported the matter to the police who apprehended the duo.

Prosecutors accused the two suspects of cursing the businessman and threatening to kill him and his son.

“I did not curse him or threaten him,” argued the employee as he entered into a not guilty plea before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

The investor was not present in courtroom three when presiding judge Mohammad Jamal called out his name.

The businessman testified to prosecutors that the incident happened following a breach in the business deal.

“The suspects came to my office at 2pm. During the meeting, one of the suspects [employee] told me ‘I am an arms dealer and capable of killing you and your son anywhere in the world’. They also cursed my family and me … they threatened and cursed me in Indian language because they didn’t want me to take legal action regarding the Dh20 million irregularities. I was petrified and afraid of getting killed so I reported the matter to the police,” he told prosecutors.

A Belgian manager told prosecutors: “The investor had a business contract with the businessman and the incident happened after he had breached the contract. I was present in the office when I overheard one of the suspects saying that he has an weapons factory in India.”

Presiding judge Jamal said the court will hear prosecution witnesses when it reconvenes on July 29.