David Haye accused of fraud in Dubai over £341k 'bounced cheque'

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Haye, 34, stopped as he arrived at Dubai International Airport for a holiday
He was taken to a police station and handed over his passport
Cheque had been the final payment on a new property in the UAE
He says the 'bounced' cheque was down to an administrative error

Published: 03:39 EST, 27 April 2015 | Updated: 09:32 EST, 27 April 2015

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Boxer David Haye was arrested at Dubai airport and held in a police cell over a £341,000 bounced cheque, it has been reported.

Former two-weight world champion Haye, 34, was stopped by officials on his arrival at Dubai International Airport and accused of fraud by writing a cheque as payment for a new property which bounced.

The boxer also handed over his passport to authorities, and has been unable to leave the United Arab Emirates - forcing him to miss a mixed martial arts event in Birmingham at the weekend.

Former heavyweight boxing champion David Haye was stopped at Dubai International Airport and questioned over allegations that he wrote a £341,000 cheque which bounced. He is pictured during his trip to Dubai

The cheque, worth 1.8million Emirati Dirham, was intended as a final payment on a newly-built property, as part of a deal with developers Emaar, which is part-owned by the Dubai government.

Haye has said the 'bounced' cheque was down to an administrative error.

He told The Sun's Michael Hamilton: 'The cheque was presented to the bank four days before I landed. It was not due to be presented until final completion of my property, which is due in a few weeks.

'This was an administrative error which is being rectified. I explained to the police and presented documents as proof. But I can totally understand these mistakes can happen.'

Writing a cheque that later bounces is a crime in Dubai, and can be punishable with jail, a fine, and being ordered to pay the amount.

Haye, 34, was stopped by officials after his arrival at Dubai International Airport for a holiday

Haye was reportedly taken to Bur Dubai police station, which has a department for bounced cheque suspects, and was released the same day

Police give suspects one month to pay the value of the cheque, before taking the case to court.

Figures released last June showed that Dubai police dealt with almost 80,000 bounced cheques in 2013/14, worth 9.4 billion Dirham, or £1.7 billion.

According to The Sun, Haye was held at the airport as he arrived for a holiday earlier this month after he was flagged up on a wanted list.

He was reportedly taken to Bur Dubai police station, which has a department for bounced cheque suspects, and was released the same day.

Haye had been due to attend a mixed martial arts event in Birmingham on Saturday, but was unable to leave Dubai. Instead he went to a Robbie Williams concert in Abu Dhabi

He surrendered his passport, as did two of his associates.

The Foreign Office is understood to have had no involvement in the case.

During his stay in Dubai, Haye has reportedly been staying at the luxurious Palm Jumeirah development, and has been tweeting photographs of himself enjoying the sunshine, as well as meeting fans.

He posted a video to his Instagram account today thanking fans for their concern over an 'administrative issue' as he walked along a beach in the sunshine.

In the video, which he captioned 'Don't worry about me too much!!!', he said: 'Thanks for all your worry and concern but don't get too stressed about me, things aren't that bad.

'A little administrative issue has left me in Dubai for a few days longer than anticipated but it's getting smoothed out as we speak and I'll be back - probably in London or Las Vegas soon.'

David Haye posts message after being stuck in Dubai

Haye has not been seen in the boxing ring since he defeated Dereck Chisora in July 2012. He is pictured after the fight at Upton Park with the WBA and WBO International Heavyweight Championship belts

Haye had been due to attend a BAMMA mixed martial arts event in Birmingham on Saturday, where he was to present a live broadcast for channel Spike TV, but was forced to cancel due to his extended stay in Dubai.

Instead, his place on the commentary team was taken by former WBA super-middleweight champion Carl Froch.

In an Instagram message which was also posted to the event's Facebook page, Haye said: 'Sorry I can't be there tonight for BAMMA 20, I'm gutted, I'm stuck here in Dubai but I'll be there on June 13 in Birmingham for BAMMA 21.'

'Enjoy the action tonight, it's going to be great.'

While he should have been in Birmingham, Haye instead told his 1.05 million Twitter followers that he had been to a Robbie Williams concert in Abu Dhabi, writing: 'Rluctantly came to @robbiewilliams concert Abu Dhabi, as not my style of music. But I'm a fan now, pure old school!' [sic].

Haye has not been seen in the boxing ring since he defeated Dereck Chisora in July 2012, while two planned fights against British rival Tyson Fury have fallen through, the second as a result of shoulder surgery.

Despite being advised by doctors to give up boxing, he is said to be planning a comeback and hopes to fight again within the next 18 months.

Since his last fight he has also appeared in the twelfth series I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, finishing third in the television contest in November 2012.

MailOnline has contacted Emaar for comment.