A commercial court in Abu Dhabi ordered a bank to return AED 80,596 to a client after an expert study revealed that the bank had charged unreasonable interest on a loan.

The bank was also ordered to pay 3% yearly late payment interest from the time the claim was lodged until the entire sum was reimbursed. 

According to court papers, the customer filed a civil claim demanding the recovery of AED 80,596, legal interest, and AED 20,000 in compensation.

He alleged that despite making monthly loan payments, the bank deducted amounts greater than what was lawfully owed, as outlined in an expert report given to the court. 

According to the Emirates Today newspaper, the bank's legal counsel attended the proceedings but provided no proof to contradict the accusation. 

The court said in its decision that the expert extensively studied the loan account and determined that the plaintiff had paid AED 80,596 more than the actual outstanding sum.

The court expressed trust in the report, stating that it was provided by a trained expert and followed banking norms. 

The court determined that the bank's inability to pay the sum constituted a delay and entitled the plaintiff to compensated late payment interest.

The court, however, dismissed the client's demand for an extra AED 20,000 in compensation, finding that the client had not proved any losses beyond the previously acknowledged financial loss. 

The court ordered the bank to pay AED 80,596, plus 3% yearly late payment interest, as well as legal costs and lawyers' fees, while dismissing all other claims.