Dubai, Aug. 28 -- The Dubai Court of Appeal has increased the penalty against Dubai-based Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, known as 'Abu Sabah', ordering him and his associates to jointly pay Dirham 150 million (Rs 3,58,04,38,500) for their role in a large-scale money laundering scheme.

The court also upheld his five-year prison sentence, an additional fine of Dh 500,000 (Rs 1,19,34,780), and deportation after completing the term, Emarat Al Youm reported on Thursday, August 28.

The appellate ruling said that Sahni played a central role in financing the network. He withdrew Dh 20 million (Rs 47,73,91,800) from his companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to fund the scheme, receiving a share of the proceeds.

The money was la...