11/01/06
Greetings from Dubai,
This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. I am Mr. Ali Raza Khan, currently Head of Coporate affairs with a reputable bankhere in U. A. E. I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that I can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you.
I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On November 6, 2000, an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the CHEVRONPETROLEUM CORPORATION, MR. KHALIL AL NASSER made a (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his account officer before I was moved to my present position recently. Upon maturity in 2003, as his account officer and as well the bank manger, it is my duty to notify him on the maturity date so I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but the letter was returned undelivered.
After sometime, I tried sending back the letter, but it was again returned and finally I discovered from his contract employers, Chevron Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Khalil Al Nasser died as a result of torture in the hand of Saddam Hussein (former Iraqi President) during one of his trips to his country Iraq, as he was accused of leaking information to the Americans. On further investigation, I discovered that Mr. Al Nasser's family wife and two sons died during the Gulf War in Iraq and was the reason why he did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank and did not leave any WILL. This sum of US$17,500,000.00 have been floating and placed under dormant/unserviceable account by my bank management since no one have heard from the owner since 2003. I wish to let you know that all the investigation I have made so far, my bank management is not aware of it, I am the only one that have the information.
With the recent change of government in my country and with their efforts to support the United Nations in checkmating terrorism aid in the U. A. E. By end of this year, the government will pass a new financial control law which will give the government authority to interrogate account owners of above $5,000,000.00 to explain the source of the funds,making sure it is not for terrorism support. If I do not move this money out of the country immediately, by end of the year the government will definitely confiscate the money, because my bank cannot provide the account owner to explain the source of the money.
I cannot directly transfer out this money without the help of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an assistance. As the Account Officer to late Al Nasser, coupled with my present position and status in the bank as Head of Retail Banking Groug , I have the power to influence the release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the next of kin to the account, with the correct information concerning the account, which I shall give you. All documents to enable you claim this fund will be carefully worked out and there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law, beside U. A. E is porous and anything goes.
If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us to share the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied. If you are interested, contact me as soon as you receive this message so we can go over the details. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you. Please, treat with utmost confidentiality. I shall send you copy of the deposit certificate issued to Al Nasser when th
e deposit was made for your perusal. I wait your urgent response.
Regards, Mr. Ali Raza Khan
We're off to a bad start here. It's a regular Dead Bank Customer scenario... but with an Iraqi connection... Malcolm Reynolds, ex-Marine Corps helicopter pilot and Desert Storm/Desert Sabre veteran, shall handle this one. I started by spelling his name wrong.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr. Kahn,
To be honest, I am surprised that you have contacted me. I am intrigued by your suggestion, but a little concerned at possible outcomes.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
13/01/06
Hello Malcolm Reynolds,
Thanks for your response and willingness to participate in this transaction. The name of my bank is MASHREQ BANK LLC. I am happy as well to know that we can do this together for our mutual interest. I shall send you the deposit certificate in my next email. You shall find my name listed in the below Mashreq Bank website as Head of Corporate Affairs Department. This is just to proof to you that I am who I say I am and I will require your unreserve attention to this transaction.
http://www.mashreqbank.com/UAE/05Profile/01AboutUs/60managementstructure/02leadershipforum. asp This transaction requires utmost trust from your side, since you will be receiving the funds in your account and shall be in control of everything, until I come for my share. Regarding the sharing, since I am the initiator of this transaction I deserve to take home a higher percentage, so I propose to share the money with you 40% for you and 60% for me. let me know your mind on this, because it is my wish for both parties to be happy.
I want you to bear one thing in mind, there is no risk involved in this transaction. It is 100% risk free and secured. It involves bank to bank wire transfer to your bank account. I shall take care of every information related to the account once the transfer is concluded. The first step now in this transaction, is to place your name as the next of kin to the account in the bank system so that every information will reflect accordingly. I will require you to send me the following information for the commencement of the process, your full names, your age, postal address, telephone and fax numbers. This has to be done immediately. This transaction will be completed within 10-14 working days and the funds will be transferred to your bank account.
Once I receive the above mentioned information and concludes with the arrangements, the services of a very good attorney will be required to represent you in the affected offices for the claim. I have a very good lawyer in mind, he specializes in such cases and also a registered attorney with the Central Bank of United Arab Emirate, which is the bank that will handle the transfer of the funds out of the country to your bank account.
As far as my bank is concern, I will handle my part. I shall send you the lawyer's contact details once I receive the requested information so that you can contact him and requeste for his services. Here is a little more about me, I am married to a lovely wife with four children, three boys and a girl. It has been my dream to manage my own business and I think God has answered my prayers by making this transaction possible. Tell me more about yourself, family and your business. Please, contact me strictly on this my personal email address and remember to treat this transaction with utmost confidentiality.
I await your urgent response. Thank you and God bless.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr. Kahn,
I'm sorry not to have replied sooner, but I was required to go interstate to collect a shipment of spare parts for my aircraft, and I had no chance to get to my email.
Please answer me this; how did you come to contact me? I doubt if m
y business efforts would have come to anyone's notice (my company is not yet fully incorporated). But since you've been forward with me, I'll return the favour. I'm a pilot and aspiring air transport executive, trying to establish an air courier company operating from Alice Springs (right by the Dead Heart). The ace in the hole for the company is the V-22 Osprey transport, a revolutionary new rotary-wing machine that bridges the gap between helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. My background is the military (United States Marine Corps). I have no children (yet), but I do have a steady partner and marriage is likely in the next year or two.
Here's what you need to know - Full name, Malcolm Paul Reynolds.
Born, Charleston, South Carolina, 15 February 1972.
My home address is 2/33 Stuart Drive, Alice Springs; my work (postal) address is PO Box 187, Alice Springs; telephone (home): (03) 9347 8666; no fax at this time.
You seem to have a great deal of faith in the protective power of paperwork - to be honest, I don't entirely share it.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Just so y'all know - the Boeing V-22 Osprey is a real aircraft, but so far it's not even entered service with the US Armed Forces. It definitely hasn't been sold to civilians.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
18/01/2006
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Thanks for the information and it is good to know more about you. Actually I am an aviation enthusaist and I read a lot about sports planes. I am nursing the dream of owing an RV-6 aircraft, as I am plannng to become a homebuilder. I like Aircrafts a lot and it is my dream also to float an airline and I beleive God have answered my prayers through this transaction. Since you have interest in aviation, I think our partinership in this transaction will work out perfectly.
I wish to inform you that all the necessary changes in my bank is now completed and the account now has your name as the rightful beneficiary Next of Kin. Now, you have to contact an attorney here in U. A. E who shall represent you in the claim. We need a registered attorney with the Central Bank of U. A. E, because only registered attorneys are allowed to handle Central Bank matters in connection with foreign transfers. You have to contact the attorney I told you about in my previous letter who shall represent you in the claim here in U. A. E. He is a good attorney as I told you earlier.
You have to contact him and request for his legal services in the claim of your company's account which was opened by your late business partner. You must not let him know that you are having communication with me, meaning that he must not know my involvement in this claim. Just tell him that you got his contact details from a friend of yours who once lived in U. A. E and you learnt that he is a registered attorney with the Central Bank of U. A. E, so you wish to know if he can represent you in a Next of Kin claim with a bank in U. A. E. Once he agrees to work for you, you shall inform me, so I can send you the informations he shall need to commence with the process.
NAME OF ATTORNEY
BARRISTER ONIAS ZWANI.
ZWANI CHAMBERS ABU-DHABI U. A. E.
TEL. 971 502815247
FAX: 971 502815217
EMAIL. enquiries@zwanichambers.com
Please, contact him immediately. This is the situation of things now. Always keep everything about this transaction very confidential and do not discuss this with anybody. I am looking forward to a glorious future business partnership/relationship with you. I attach copy of the deposit certificate issued to late Khalil when he deposited the funds with my bank for your perusal. Here also is my phone number 00971502260385 with which you can contact me for oral conversation. Waiting for updates from you.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
The RV-6 is a kit plane! Man, I wouldn't be seen near one of those toys. It's like comparing a moped to a Harley...
"Since you have interest in aviation" - for ten years I was flying AH-1s with the Marine Corps. It's more than just interest, buddy!
Anyway, seriously - I'll contact your lawyer, but first, please explain the cloak and dagger approach. It's going to make things that much harder.
Can you send me a full bio on Khalil al Nasser? If I'm going to make a next of kin claim, I'll need all the info I can get...
I can't believe I just wrote that. A white bread southern boy is a blood relative to Khalil al Nasser of Iraq? If he died from an American bomb or missile, how's that going to look?
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Just so y'all know this too - the AH-1 is the Cobra gunship, as you will see presently.
He tries to gloss over the next of kin problem, and gives me an opening for a slap.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
20/01/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Thanks for your mail. I quite agree with you that RV-6 is a small aircraft, but down here in Middle East, we are not too familiar with air planes, so I am well satisfied with the RV-6 training.
Coming to our transaction, what you have to do now like I explained in my previous email, you have to write the attorney whom I sent you his contact details and request for his legal representation in a next of kin matter. I shall help and draft a sample of how the letter shall look like if you wish me to do that. On the other hand, you are not pursuing this claim as a blood relation to Late Al Nasser, even a blind man will know that you cannot be Al Nasser blood relation.
I have thought of all the these issues before I decide to go into this transaction and I have answers to any area that will proof difficult to us.
On that issue, you shall be a business partner to Late Al Nasser, and since the fund is in a company's account, which makes the whole process easier. You shall apply for the claim as his business partner because the funds belong to your company. With this, nobody will think twice to approve the release to you. I have tied up my end, by putting in place all the documents in my bank, as I am writing to you now, your name appears as the next of kin beneficiary of the account in my bank's records. This is a work only a top insider can manipulate, that is one of the roles I am playing in this transaction.
Here is a little bio of Al Nasser, he was a Crude Oil dealer, and because of the brutality of Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq, he decided to establish his business in U. A. E. He was an Iraqi citizen, but unfortunately for him the War in Iraq took his life and that of his family. The name of his company is Oracle Consulting Inc and that is the name he uses to open the bank account with our bank.
If there is any other information you may require, please do not hesitate to contact me immediately. If the attorney ask you any question you do not have answer to, please do contact me immediately so I can provide the solution.
I wait for your update. Let me know as soon as you have communication with the attorney. God bless.
Regards,
Khan.
I attached two pictures - one of a Boeing V-22 Osprey, the other of a Bell AH-1 Cobra. Now to keep him off balance, and take him to task over that line about "even a blind man..."
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
"[N]ot too familiar with air planes" - come on, how many airlines are owned by Arab Sheikhs and so on? But anyway - here's a picture of what I flew in the Corps. You'll admit, it's one cruel bird.... For comparison, here's the Osprey. This one I call the Firefly (my Corps callsign). You'll admit, it's one cool bird...
Now, to business - if you can draft me at least the bare bones of the letter, please do so, there's probably a different form of words to the kind of business letters I'd normally write. I will take issue with one thing - you wrote, "even a blind man will know that you cannot be Al Nasser blood relation". That's not nice - it sounds like you think that blind people are automatically stupid. I don't like that attitude.
My weapons operator, a promising young lad named Phil Armstrong, was blinded for life after our Cobra took a hit from a 57 mm shell in the nose during the first Gulf War. I killed the S-60 that hit us and got Phil back to base ASAP, but the damage to his eyes was irreparable. Despite this wound, Phil didn't let this faze him; he is a respected trauma councillor in New York, helping people cope with the long-term effects of extreme physical injury. Now I'm sure you understand why I didn't like your comment.
That aside - give me a draft of the right letter and I'll get it done and submitted.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Cobra!
Firefly!Apology plus poor excuse for an official letter; they never go far from script if they can...
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
21/01/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Thanks for your mail and the pictures you sent. The two aircrafts are wonderful and I must say that you are a great pilot. Please, accept my appology if my statement in my previous email offends you. What I have in mind while making the statement is not what you felt I meant, I was trying to explain to you that we cannot use a blood relation for Al Nasser and you, because it will be obvious, maybe I used the wrong explanation sentence. I am friend to the disabled, so there is no a time I will say bad things about them, so please do not misunderstand me.
I have drafted the letter the way I feel it shall be. Go through it and if there is need for amendments,
please take care of that and send it to the attorney
You can as well call him on phone and notify him about the email you have sent him. You have to inform me as soon as the attorney gets back to you.
Have a nice weekend.
Regards,
Khan.
HERE IS THE LETTER.
Dear Barrister Onias Zwani,
How is U. A. E? I hope you people are fine? I got your contact information through a friend of mine who once lived in the U.A.E. as I need an attorney to represent me in a next of kin claim of an account which was established by my late business partner in the U.A.E.
As he died I would like to know if you could represent me in order to claim the proceeds of the account since I am being stated as the next of kin of the account in the bank. I am in dear need of the funds in order to facilitate our other business here in my country.
Please inform me if you are interested and tell me which information you will need to commence the process of releasing the account to my honour. The name of the bank where the account is being held is Mashreq Bank LLC.
Thank you very much in advance and I wait to hear from you positively.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
I send the "barrister" pretty much the exact text that Ali Khan supplied. A real barrister might have wondered at the difference between this and later emails...
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Barrister Onias Zwani,
How is U. A. E? I hope your people are fine?
I got your contact information through a friend of mine who once lived in the U.A.E. as I need an attorney to represent me in a next of kin claim of an account which was established by my late business partner in the U.A.E.
As he died I would like to know if you could represent me in order to claim the proceeds of the account since I am being stated as the next of kin of the account in the bank. I am in dear need of the funds in order to facilitate our other business here in my country.
Please inform me if you are interested and tell me which information you will need to commence the process of releasing the account to my honour. The name of the bank where the account is being held is Mashreq Bank LLC.
I will send full information of the account to you upon your acceptance of this request.
Thank you very much in advance and I wait to hear from you positively.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
Onias Zwani
22/01/2006
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter requesting for my legal services in my country. I must express my gratitude for choosing me in handling your banking work. I am assuring you that you have chosen a good lawyer, as I have good working experience in such matters.
Could you please, furnish us with some information about yourself, your name what you wish is to do for you, and all the required information of the work you wish us to handle for you. We need this information in order to conduct some verification at the bank before reaching agreement with you.
We wait to hear from you soon. Once more, thank you for choosing us.
Yours faithfully,
Barr. Onias Zwani
Malcolm Reynolds
Barrister Zwani:
I require your expertise to claim a fund lodged with the Mashreq bank in November 2000 by Mr. Khalil al Nasser, an Iraqi citizen. The money, to a total value of US$17.5 million, was lodged in the Mashreq in a three-year investment account, and fell due in November 2003. However, I received no word from him, and it was not until two months ago that I was informed that the unfortunate Mr Nasser and his family had been killed in late 2004 - I was not told how. The Mashreq bank has informed me that I will need formal counsel to process this claim, so I would like you to act for me. I attach the deposit certificate supplied to me. Best
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
23/01/2006
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the information you sent. I have gone through the Fixed Deposit Certificate you attached and from what I understood from the instructions on the terms of the deposit, it is a three year fixed deposit, which was to terminate on November 2003 and there was these clause at the bottom of the deposit certificate which states that the bank will stop calculating interest on the deposit after the redemption date if the depositor did not renew the fixed deposit contract. I wish to clarify from you if your business partner renewed the contract with the bank before his death, because two years has passed from the date of termination. I need to know this in order to equip myself and be able to represent your interest very well.
Meanwhile, shall visit the bank and with the information, and make enquiries, before I write them official application on the issue of inheriting your late business partner's bank account. I will be getting back to you concerning my findings at the Bank.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn,
I sent them the letter you provided, here's the reply.
What's next? I'm assuming that Khalil al Nasser didn't renew the account - though assuming can be a bad idea...
Just a thought, one that should have come to me before; are you absolutely sure, as in willing to guarantee, that there aren't any other blood relations who could try to stake a claim to this money?
The other thing to think about is how to explain the sudden surge in my bank account. Granted, 60% is yours, but still...
Finally - the original deposit was $17.5 million, but the certificate mentions $6.0375 million in interest. I presume that is also to be transferred?
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
23/01/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
How was your weekend? I hope it was fine? I am really happy to know that you have already initiated communication with the attorney, This has shown me that you are capable of concluding this transaction with me. I have read the attorney's letter and I must say that he is an intelligent attorney, by picking out the bank clause concerning renewal of the deposit.
Actually, Al Nasser could not renew the deposit because he never lived to see the termination date of the fixed deposit, which was what I presumed. In such issues, the bank has to pay some interest on the money because they have been making use of it during the two years the contract was not renewed. Tell the attorney that your late business partner forgot the clause on the deposit contract and that was why he did not notify the bank to renew, but he should use his experience and know how to make the bank pay some % of interest for the two years. We always have such problems here and the bank normal way of treating them is giving 50% of the interest to the customer. You don't have to tell the attorney this, because this is an inside information. Just tell him to talk to the bank management and see how best they can assist on that.
Once this issue is raised, the bank management shall contact my branch to get information on that.
On the issue of how you shall explain the sudden huge money in your bank account, I think this is very simple considering your line of business. You have to tell whoever that ask, that you have gone into partnership with a friend in U. A. E, so that you will be able to purchase more plane for your flight transport business. I will be there immediately the money is released to you and everybody shall see your foreign business partner. WE met each other during the Gulf War and since but of us have similar interest in airline business, we are teaming up to boast the business. So this issue is not a problem, everybody knows that it requires huge amount to buy outright a transport airplane, so nobody will doubt you.
From my calculation, after the interest have been added, we shall be having around $26 million plus to share and with your own share you can buy any type of transport airplane you wish.
Please, get back to the attorney immediately concerning the renewal issue and also ask him to give your work priority, as you need the money as soon as possible.
I wait for your update.
Regards,
Khan.
They say, never correct a scammer, but Ali's story needed a good thrashing out... it was pretty poor stuff, with holes you could have flown a Cobra through. Malcolm gets to work on its shortcomings.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn: Let's leave the attorney to one side for now.
I want to talk about getting stories straight!
"Fist off; Al Nasser could not renew the deposit because he never lived to see the termination date of the fixed deposit, which was what I presumed."
Er, no, I guess I should have forwarded my second letter to the attorney. I had Mr al Nasser dying in 2004. Let's not get the dates out of synch, all right?
"Tell the attorney that your late business partner forgot the clause on the deposit contract and that was why he did not notify the bank to renew, but he should use his experience and know how to make the bank pay some % of interest for the two years. We always have such problems here and the bank normal way of treating them is giving 50% of the interest to the customer."
What does this mean? I can't tell if you're talking about incentives or penalties, it's that murky.
"WE met each other during the Gulf War and since but of us have similar interest in airline business, we are teaming up to boast the business."
This is going to be a hell of a sell, especially to my partners in SAC, who've never heard of you. In Jayne's case, he was my wingman's weapons op, and we spent most off-duty time together in Saudi or Kuwait (much fun it was anyway). He's going to need some convincing because he'd be sure that you and I never met.
The biggest problem is going to be explaining how I happened to become friends with an Iraqi business man who then invested money on my behalf, especially since I served in Desert Storm/Desert Sabre and as I remember we didn't make many friends back then. I'm not that inventive, could you think of anything to explain that?
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
PS I'll send you the other message, just to be on the safe side.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
23/01/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Thanks for quick response. First of all I want you to know that we are putting heads together in order to make this a success, so any good idea from both sides will be appreciated. You are right on your statement, we have to consider the date before giving the attorney any information. On the renewal issue, I think the best reason should be that Al Nasser forgot the clause on the contract, that was why he did not notify the bank to renew the contract.
On the interest issue, what I mean is that the bank will grant 50% of the two years interest, which represent incentives and not penalty, what this means is that the bank will calculate the interest of the deposit for two years and give half of it to Al Nasser's account.
My story about making friend with you while you were in Midle East and having similar interest in airline business is just my own suggestion, for you to view and see if it fits. Since this story will not go, then we have to think out a better one. I am suggesting that you are receiving a loan from U. A. E in order to finance your airline business. A businessman who have the means and opportunity to get a loan to finance his business, will do that and it is not a crime. This is another suggestion I want you to view and let me know your mind. If you have a better idea, please do not hesitate to inform me.
Please, bear in mind also that there is no living blood retation of Al Nasser, who will come for the claim in the future. This is what I have investigated on and made sure that all grounds are clear before I decide to embark on this transaction. Al Nasser deposited the funds secretly and that was why he left the next ok kin column vacant during the contract which now makes the whole transaction easier for us to manipulate. You have nothing to worry about, if there is anyone to worry, that should be me, but since I am sure of what I doing, there is no room to be afraid.
All I require from you is totally confidentiality of this transaction, let this secret live and die between us.
I wait to hear from you and please do communicate with attorney and inform him about the reason why Al Nasser did not renew the contract and also urge him to commence with the work immediately.
Regards,
Khan.
Onias Zwani
24/01/2006
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds Dear Sir,
I sent you a letter some hours ago and I do not if you have received it or not. Meanwhile, I have been at the bank as I informed you in the said and made enquiries concerning the existence of the account. The account information stated in the deposit certificate is correct.
I now require answer to my question concerning the renewal in order to prepare my official application to the bank. I shall send the letter to the bank as soon as I receive the information.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Barrister Zwani:
To the best of my knowledge Mr al Nasser did not renew the account.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
24/01/2006
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds Dear Sir,
I write to inform you that I have prepared and submited application to the bank in respect to the next of kin issue. I am now waiting for their response, which I shall communicate to you immediately. Yours faithfully, Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr. Zwani,
Very prompt - I'm impressed. Other lawyers would be stringing me along but not you. Well done. I hope to hear from you again soon.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
25/01/06
Dear My. Reynolds,
Thanks for the update. I wait for more updates.
Regards,
Khan.
Well, it had to come sooner or later... though receiving a request for payment in dirhams was a first.
Onias Zwani
26/01/2006
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
Dear Sir,
Today, the bank management responded to my application and there are some requirements they need in order to process the next of kin claim. In the attachment of this email, you shall find copy of the letter from the Mashreq Bank LLC, stating their requirements to process the claim.
Also, on my part, before I proceed any further with your work, you shall provide me with Legal Consultation/ retainer ship fees of $1000. This shall cover for our transportation to and fro all the affected offices and departments.
On the bank requirements, I also need the following fees in order to obtain some of the required legal documents and administrative fees;
(A) Oath fees for Sworn Affidavit is 3,519 DIRHAMS or in $960
(B) Probate fees is 2,400 DIRHAMS or in $640.
(C) Stamp Duty fee is 7,520 DIRHAMS or in $2,050.
Total amount required is $4,650.
I also require a signed Power of Attorney, mandating me as your attorney to represent you and stand in on your behalf for the next of kin claim at the bank and all the related government offices involved. Sample of the Power of Attorney is in the attachment. Type it out, sign and send to me as scanned document through email attachment or you can as well fax it. I shall present it to all the affected offices to register my representation of you.
On the bank requirement, Item 4 and 5 on the list shall be obtained here in U. A. E Judiciary, Federal High Court and Justice Ministry, which I have stated their fees above. You shall send the requested information namely, item 1, 2, 3 and 6.
Also in transaction of this magnitude, we normally charge 0.2% of the total inheritance to be claimed and shall be paid to us once you receive the inheritance claim. We will like to know if you accept this.
You have to transfer our legal consultation and other required administrative fees through Western Union Money Transfer, using my Secretary's name THADDEUS C. AKWAJA. You have to send the transfer information once you send the money. I shall commence the process immediately I receive the above mentioned requirements. Thanks once more for choosing us to represent you. I wait to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Barr Onias Zwani.
-------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
THAT I, Malcolm Paul Reynolds,, of Legal age, Hereby make, constitute and appoint, Barrister Onias Zwani, of legal age who now, practice law in U. A. E, to act for me on behalf of my family with the authority bestowed in me for the principal use and benefit and to perform, and or undertake the following:
1. To stand as my appointed representative and attorney in fact and go to Mashreq Bank LLC and negotiate with the bank for the claim and release of a left funds belonging to my business partner late. MR.KHALIL AL NASSER, which is in my name as the next of kin.
2. To stand in on my behalf in all affected offices and sign on my behalf for the release of the left estate.
3. To grant said Barrister Onias Zwani full powers and authority to do and perform each and every act anything, which may be necessary or convenient, in connection with any of the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purpose of the claim.
THAT I, give this power based on the authority from my family of which evidence is attached. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
You wanted another update, you shall get another update.
Just let me know if the Power of Attorney is OK and the wording totally straightforward. I thought it would have to be witnessed. Must be a UAE variant.
Check out the letter.
Barrister Zwani wants a lot of documentation - over to you on that - and some money. He wants it via Western Union - is that standard legal practice over there? It ain't the most secure way to transfer cash.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
26/01/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Thanks for the update. I have read the letter from the attorney and the requirements from the legal department of the Bank head quarters. The documentations required by the bank can be arranged, so do not worry, because from the tone of your email, you sound depressed. I want you to know that nothing good comes easy and that roads leading to success are always rough.
First of all, you have to provide the attorney all the requirements he needed from you as stated in his email and also instruct him to get the Sworn Affidavit and Probate from the U. A. E Judiciary as he stated also in his letter, like item 4 and 5. Item six is copy of the deposit certificate issued to Al Nasser when he deposited the funds in the bank. I have sent you a copy of this document, so you have to send it to the attorney.
On the WILL issue, I believe you know that there is no WILL for late Al Nasser, so this is how we shall handle that aspect. This is what you shall tell the attorney.
Tell him that late Khalil Al Nasser left no will before his sudden death. That he was suppose to re-transfer the funds from U. A. E to your account in your country, as your company was about to relocate from U. A. E, but unfortunately he died unexpectedly, making it impossible for him to identify you as the beneficiary next of kin to the account. Tell him to explain to the bank legal department that you are the owner of the company and you do not require a written WILL by Khalil Al Nasser before you can claim your property and since there was no written WILL from Khalil Al Nasser stating you as the next of kin, you request him to make an alternative legal arrangements on your behalf in case where there is no WILL for such claim, because Khalil mentioned your name in the bank Form as his Next of Kin. There is a particular legal document required to be used in such situation. The legal document is called Letter of Administration where there is no WILL. So this solves the problem of the WILL. On the death certificate issue, I can handle that here. I will get a Medical Director with the government hospital here in U. A. E to issue a death certificate for Al Nasser. You have to inform the attorney that you have instructed your company's doctor in U. A. E to prepare a death certificate for Al Nasser, because of the circumstance surrounding the death of Al Nasser, no death certificate was issued for him.
Your relationship with Khalil Al Nasser is business partner and late Khalil Al Nasser was in charge of U. A. E branch of the company. This is what you shall tell the attorney. You have to send him copy of your driver's license or your international passport for identification purpose. You have to also type and sign the power of attorney as he instructed. I have read it and it is okay, it is just a power of attorney for him to be able to stand for you, so not witness is required as you thought. On the issue of the company's Incorporation Certificate, that also can be handled, but will cost me some money likewise the death certificate. I can get a copy of the Oracle Consulting Inc. Incorporation Certificate from the U. A. E Chamber of Commerce, I shall pay someone there to get a copy for me. I want you to know that before I decide to embark on this transaction, I have thought of likely requirements by the bank and authorities, and slept over it and know that the transaction will not be a failure that was why I embarked. So I need unreserved support from your end, in order to make this a success. I shall send you copies of the death and Incorporation Certificates as soon as I have them in my possession, so you forward them to the attorney.
The fees he requested for his legal consultation, payment of Sworn Affidavit, Probate and Stamp Duty fees. They are acceptable, so you have to arrange to send that to him. He requested through Western Union Money Transfer, I have to believe that he has his reasons for that payment system, but you can as well suggest to him any other means you feel better. He also requested for 0.2% of the total inheritance funds for his charges, which will be paid to him after the inheritance funds has been released to you. 0.2% of let say, $24 million will amount to $48,000. I think it is okay for his services, so you have to accept that as well. Please contact the attorney immediately with the above information and inform him that you are arranging the other documents to send to him soon. I shall set off immediately to arrange for the two documents and I pray that I get them quick. I will be updating you on my progress. Tell the attorney to start making arrangement for the Sworn Affidavit and Probate, so that he go to the bank immediately you send him the rest of the documents to avoid wasting of time.
Thank you and God bless.
Regards,
Khan.
I hate platitudes. Another mark against our Lad.
I don't know if the US State Department forbids the copying of passports, but it's a good enough rule that it should exist... Trivia note - the SA-7 is a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile akin to the Stinger; the ZU-23 and S-60 are anti-aircraft cannon.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn,
Stop worrying about me, I'm not depressed - a lawyer's letter ain't going to put me down. Trust me, after dodging SA-7s and ZU-23s and S-60s, a lawyer's letter ranks very low on the scale of things that will make me upset or nervous.
Before I even think of sending any explanations to the lawyer, let's sort out some details. You suggest this: "...he was suppose to re-transfer the funds from U. A. E to your account in your country, as your company was about to relocate from U. A. E,..." and this: "You have to inform the attorney that you have instructed your company's doctor in U. A. E..." and this: "Your relationship with Khalil Al Nasser is business partner and late Khalil Al Nasser was in charge of U. A. E branch of the company".
This is getting too complex. I'm not going to tell lies that can be easily disproved. Serenity Air Couriers still doesn't exist (we were hoping to roll it out today, Australia Day, but the deadline passed), far less had branches in the Emirates.
Then there's this: "You have to send him copy of your international passport for identification purpose". That can't be done. The State Department has strict rules about this; no copies can be made of a passport, to prevent identity theft. I'm not totally sure, but I think sending copies, especially via email, could be considered a Federal Offence. I'm still an American citizen and don't want to get in trouble with the Feds.
I'll send him what I have now, but for the rest...
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
27/01/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for your mail. I have been busy arranging for the documents as I told you in my previous email that was why I am responding to your email now. I have read your mail and I think you are misunderstanding a lot of issues. The company I talked about is not your "Serenity Air Couriers" company as you thought, but the company of late Al Nasser, which is Oracle Consulting Inc. It is this company I have been talking about and that is also the company the bank requires copy of its Incorporation Certificate, which I am now making arrangement to get.
I don't want you to see what we are doing as telling lies, I believe these are means we can handle this transaction without any hitch on the way. If you can please follow issues as I have instructed, I will be very delighted, but if you have a better idea on how to handle some of the issues, do not hesitate to inform me so that we can elaborate on them.
On the issue of identification, it is not a must you send copy of your passport, you can send any means identification that will be more convenient for you, take for instance, birth certificate is a means of identification, and driver's license is also a means of identification, just think of any better identification you can send.
Meanwhile, I have had successful discussion with the Medical Director and he will be making available the death certificate to me by tomorrow or next. On the Incorporation certificate, I have arranged for that also and I will be receiving that as soon as I make the amount requested by the officer available to him. I hope to tidy that up by Monday or Tuesday. At least you have seen that I am up and doing taking care of my end, so please I beg you to follow suit.
I will be updating you. Have a nice day. Meanwhile, I have tried to reach you on phone several times, but I always receive fax signals. Please, send me a number I can reach you with often.
Regards,
Khan.
"I have tried to reach you on phone several times, but I always receive fax signals" - odd, he shouldn't be receiving anything, it's a fake number!
Onias Zwani
28/01/2006
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Please, can you confirm if you receive the letter I sent to you few days ago, regarding response from the bank. I wait to hear from on the required information by the bank.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Barrister Zwani:
I received your message, all is clear.
It's proving a little more difficult that I first thought to procure the information - it'll be done ASAP.
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn,
If I misunderstood, it wasn't entirely my fault.
You wrote, "your company was about to relocate from U. A. E,... Tell him to explain to the bank legal department that you are the owner of the company... your company's doctor in U. A. E.... Your relationship with Khalil Al Nasser is business partner and late Khalil Al Nasser was in charge of U. A. E branch of the company..."
Under the circumstances, it's no wonder I thought you meant SAC. I had no link to Oracle Consulting, and this could be proved quite easily if anyone asked.
Just a thought; when am I supposed to have been linked with Oracle? We should fix the dates so they don't clash with my Marine duty!
I've had a busy weekend - the Australia Day deadline for the rollout of SAC has passed, and we're working on a 14 February deadline. I'll try to get the letter to Mr Zwani done as soon as I can.
I don't understand about the phone. No-one else has reported any problems - and I have been taking local calls. Perhaps it's with international calls... Thanx for the tip anyway, I'll follow it up.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
31/01/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
How was your weekend? I hope it was okay. I have good news for you, today I was able to receive the death certificate from the Medical Director and yesterday evening I also received copy of the Incorporation certificate.
In the attachment, you shall find copies of the two documents. Please, send them immediately to the attorney, together with the power of attorney and your identification. Instruct the attorney to commence immediately with the process as you have no time to waste.
I will be waiting for updates from your side and do confirm the receipt of the two documents I am sending.
Have a nice evening.
Regards,
Khan.
I cropped a driving licence that I was sent in another scambait, and sent that - all he would receive is the heading.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
I was able to obtain copies of the Incorporation Certificate for Mr al-Nasser's firm and also a copy of the poor man's death certificate. I see from the latter that I was misinformed about the circumstances of his tragic death.
Find also attached a copy of my South Australian driving licence.
The signed power of attorney will follow separately.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
Thank you for the forms, I have sent them to Mr Zwani along with a copy of my South Australian driver's licence.
I have to travel to Melbourne tomorrow to personally inspect two Augusta A-212 helicopters - civilian versions of the UH-1 transport - that I've taken an option on to buy. I'll fax the power of attorney to Mr Zwani while I'm there.
I hope that he doesn't make any trouble on the discrepancy between what I said early on as to when Khali al-Nasser died, and the details on the death certificate.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
01/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for your mail. Regarding the death certificate issue, the attorney will not find any fault as you are thinking, because the death certificate did not state the date of Al Nasser's death, but the date the certificate was prepared, so we do not have any problem there.
I wish you a safe trip tomorrow and please do keep me update on your communication with the attorney. Have a nice day.
Regards,
Khan.
Again, the policy is not to correct a lad, but this was a biggie...
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn,
Uh - look again:
"Date Of Death 31ST DEC 2003"
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
01/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for mail. I saw the date as well, but that does not matter, the attorney and bank management will accept any date since they do not know when Al Nasser died. So I do not see it as a problem.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
I hope you're right...
I got back a couple of hours ago. I have first refusal on the A-212s and my DoD contacts mean that the spares situation is set for some time as I can cannibalize the old UH-1s.
I tried to fax the Power of Attorney to Mr Zwani (in slack time during my visit to the DoD) but something was wrong with his fax. I fed the PoA three times - once I swear I heard someone answer the gorram thing! The other two times the signal simply dropped out.
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
01/02/06
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your email and the attachments. I wish to bring to your notice that your drivers's license did not come out clearly, I still need you to resend that again. I will be waiting to receive the signed power of attorney, and the required legal fees so I can proceed with the requested documentation from. I have already received the deposit certificate with your first email to me.
I wait to receive the remaining items.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Zwani,
Please check your fax machine, something must be wrong with it - I tried three times to send the signed Power of Attorney; the first time, I'm sure someone answered! The other two times the signal just cut off.
When you say about the license that "It did not come out clearly", could you please be more specific?
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
03/02/06
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
Dear Sir,
My fax is perfectly in order. Which number are you calling? here is my fax number 00971 502815217 and it is in good working condition. Try it again. What I mean by your license not coming out clearly, I only receive half of the license and not the complete, that was why I requested to re-send it again.
I wait to receive them
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
I used the number you gave me - only now you've added an extra prefix ("00"). According to the phone book (and your original message) it should have been 0011 971 502815217. Do I now send it to 0011 00971 502815217?
The license was my mistake - I didn't check the quality of the scan. There may be something wrong with the scanner.
I'll get back to you.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
03/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for the update. It is good to hear that you had a pleasant trip. On the attorney's fax issue, you have to contact and reconfirm from him what is wrong with his fax line. You can as well scan and send him the document through email attachment.
Let me know the situation and please do request him to commence with the process immediately.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
I heard back from Mr Zwani and he said that my driver's license hadn't come through properly - that half of it wasn't there. Something may be wrong with my scanner.
He also claims that his fax is working properly.
I'll try it again and see what happens.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
03/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for the update.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn,
Here's more - but it ain't good; I still can't get through to Mr Zwani's fax, whatever number he supplies.
Worse still, my scanner is on the fritz - went bad while I was scanning my driver's license.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
03/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Have you tried to reach him on phone? I am thinking that maybe there is something wrong with connecting of International calls from your end, because like I complained I cannot reach your line too, when I call I only receive fax signal.
I rather suggest you fix your scanner and scan both document and send them to him by attachment. We are wasting a lot of time on this matter. Please, look for a way to scan the documents and send it to the attorney. Also try and see if you can connect him on phone.
I wait for your response.
Regards,
Khan.
Onias Zwani
03/02/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
I can't say the reason why you cannot get through to my fax line. This is the correct way to call a number from your country, 0011971 502815217 and you suppose to get through. On the alternative, you can as well scan and send the power of attorney by email attachment.
I wait to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
I've tried four times without any luck.
Given that I've had word that there are local problems with international calls (bad for a tourist town), there's a good reason why I couldn't send it.
On the other hand, it doesn't explain why the fax attempts from Melbourne fel
l through.
The scanner failed to copy my license properly and it's given up the ghost. Kaylee is trying to fix it.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
I pasted the text of the Power of Attorney onto a blank JPEG and then cut and pasted the signature from a form received in another scambait.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
I tried scanning the Power of Attorney in after Kaylee tinkered with the scanner. I hope this comes out OK. Let me know.
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
04/02/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
Yes I received the power of attorney in good condition. I now wait to receive the license and required fees so I can commence with the project.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Time for a monkeywrench; Malcolm is going out of circulation for a bit.
Inawa Tam
Dear Sir,
I regret to inform you that Mr Malcolm Reynolds has been hospitalised following an automotive accident. As his secretary and life partner, may I assist you with the business you and he were engaged in?
Best Regards,
Inara Tam
Inawa Tam
Dear Sir,
I regret to inform you that Mr Malcolm Reynolds has been hospitalised following an automotive accident. As his secretary and life partner, may I assist you with the business you and he were engaged in? Best Regards,
Inara Tam
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
05/02/06
Dear Ms. Inara Tam,
Thanks for the information and it is really painful to receive such sad news. How did it happen, because I communicated with him on Friday by email. How is he doing? what is the nature of the accident? please, let me know how he is feeling now and extend my sincere greetings to him. On the business issue, he once mention his partner to me and I beleive that you and him are one. If he is able to talk, I think it will be more formal for him to brief you on the present stage of the business and where you shall continue from. If he is not able to talk, then inform me so I can brief you. Please, make sure he receives serious medical attention and remember to make sure he is being X-rayed to dictate internal injuries if there is any.
My family send their regards and God bless him. We shall be praying for him quick recovery.
Waiting for your response.
Regards,
Khan.
Inawa Tam
Dear Mr Khan,
Thank you for your concern.
I apologise for not replying sooner, but between the shock of the accident and the need to secure the business in Malcolm's absence, I have had much to do.
Malcolm is in no danger but he suffered compound fractures of the right leg and severe lacerations after his car was rammed by another car, with a drunk driver at the wheel. The other driver died at the scene.
The doctors said that once the shock subsides they want to airlift Malcolm to Melbourne for treatment. I will be seeing him off tomorrow.
I don't think he will be able to brief me much if at all, so perhaps you should tell me what the business was about.
On that topic, I am puzzled why Malcolm did not confide in me, his companion of many years, about whatever business is involved here.
Malcolm locked all your details in password-protected files, likewise your past emails. I am completely in the dark on this matter; please explain.
Regards,
Inara Tam
Onias Zwani
06/02/06
Dear Madam,
It is a pity to hear about Reynolds condition. Meanwhile, I do not have any business with you for you to assist me in, I am only representing him in a legal issue here in U. A. E. So if he still wants to continue with the process he should update and instruct you on what to do. He knows the stage of his work and what is holding further action.
My regards to him.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Inawa Tam
Dear Mr Zwani,
Thank you for your reply.
It is highly likely that Malcolm will be unable to brief me on the 'legal issue'. While his injuries are not life-threatening, he remains in deep shock at this time; the doctors told me that he would have to airlifted to Melbourne for treatment once he is able to travel, which is scheduled for tomorrow. In a lucid moment Malcolm asked me to look after current business, but the file with your name is password-protected and he was unable to give me access.
I therefore have no way to receive instructions from him until he recovers from surgery. This is unlikely before the weekend, and I will be visiting him then.
Best Regards,
Inara Tam
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
07/02/06
Dear Inara Tam,
Thanks for the news and it is good to hear that Mr. Reynolds will be better soon. On the issue I had with him, I still beleive that it will be more proper that Mr. Reynolds explains to you the business, because it will take much long for me to explain it to you.
I will be in constant communication to know how he is fairing. Please, my regards to him.
Regards,
Khan.
Inawa Tam
Dear Mr Khan,
As you wish. I will update you when there is news.
Malcolm is leaving for Melbourne today and the operation is scheduled for Thursday. Under the circumstances, there is little hope of any meaningful update, from your point of view, before Friday or Saturday, when I will be going to Melbourne to see him.
Thank you for your concern.
Regards,
Inara Tam
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
10/02/06
Dear Inara Tam,
Thanks for the good news. I and my family are very happy over this news, our prayers have been answered. Just tell him that we are praying for him and we know that he will be better soon. On the business issue, it is left for him to decide on the way forward. I will be waiting for more updates from you.
Regards,
Khan.
Here's my chance to put Malcolm's licence out of reach too - just a hint for now.
Inawa Tam
Dear Mr Khan,
I saw Malcolm today. He is still rather weak - the operation was very complex, with a compound fracture of the lower leg and very severe lacerations to be treated. The surgeon told me that Malcolm should be fully recovered in about a month.
Malcolm was rather depressed as he is unlikely to be able to resume piloting before then, and that the rollout of Serenity Air Couriers would be further delayed. I decided not to tell him just then that the police had visited yesterday, according to Kaylee, to tell us that the family of the dead driver were agitating for charges to be made against Malcolm. The fact that the dead man was at least three times over the legal limit means nothing to them and Kaylee had to hand over insurance documents and his identification. This is absurd and I am going to give them a piece of my mind when I return to Alice Springs.
I hope that Malcolm will be OK to communicate with you by tomorrow or Monday.
Best Regards,
Inara Tam
Inawa Tam
Mr Zwani:
Malcolm Reynolds is recovering in hospital. He should be able to resume business in a few days. He would not tell me what you were assisting him with; this surprised me greatly. As it is, you will have to wait until he is able to communicate.
Inara Tam
Onias Zwani
13/02/06
Dear Madam,
Thanks for the good news. I am praying for his quick recovery and extend my greetings to him. Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Inawa Tam
Dear Mr Khan,
I saw Malcolm again today. He was still reluctant to discuss your business, which is important, since he is unlikely to be discharged before the end of the week, and there is no email facility at the hospital. I will talk to him again tomorrow, and try to get a briefing on your business.
Regards,
Inara Tam
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
14/02/06
Hello,
Thanks for your mail and update of Mr. Reynolds health situation. Please, aks him to communicate with me as soon as he is able to. I will be waiting for his response.
Regards,
Khan.
Inawa Tam
Dear Mr Khan,
Malcolm will be leaving hospital and returning to Alice Springs on Sunday. He will be able to resume your business then.
I am very perturbed about any business that he refused to discuss with me. We have had no secrets from each other for some years now and frankly, I find the secrecy you apparently insisted on very disturbing.
Inara Tam
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
17/02/06
Dear Madam,
Thanks for the news and I am looking forward to receive communication from Mr. Reynolds soon. My regards to him.
Regards,
Khan.
Inawa Tam
Dear Sirs,
Malcolm Reynolds will return to Alice Springs tomorrow and will most likely resume contact on Sunday.
Regards,
Inara Tam
A graphic description of the accident should put them off guard.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
This is Malcolm, to say - I'm back.
I'm sorry I couldn't reply earlier, but things here were in turmoil - which is no reflection on my people here, I might add.
I'll background you on what happened. It was late Saturday, and I was returning home in my Humvee after a busy session at the office. As I drove across an intersection I was hit broadside by a car that ran a red light.
Those are the bald facts. I can't even begin to describe the sensations - the shock, the noise, and the feeling as my leg shattered when the side panel was crushed in. I was belted in, and the airbag deployed - that saved me from further injury, but it didn't spare me from the sight of the driver from the other car. He wasn't belted in, and somehow he got thrown through his windshield. His head hit the corner strut and burst open.
I've seen some horrible things - but this was the worst, except maybe the day I helped the corpsmen lift Phil from the Cobra and I saw what the S60 round had done to his face. But this time I was trapped and helpless and a guy had died like that right in front of me - close enough to touch if I had been able to move... It was maybe two hours before they cut me out. The medics were very good. Inara made arrangements to get me to Melbourne for full treatment.
Well, you know it worked, I'm here now. And the gorram family of the guy who died want me punished. Despite the circumstances, despite the fact that the dead guy was .17 BAC, apparently it's my fault - and some people are listening, including the local police!
According to Kaylee they seized papers and ID from the office. I'm expected to go to the station tomorrow to make a formal statement. God knows what'll come of that.
And Inara doesn't like me keeping things from her. I understand why she's angry - I've never kept a business deal from her before, but you said to keep in quiet, so...
I'm very tired still. Tomorrow I have the police to visit and physiotherapy to mend my leg so I can keep flying. I so much want to fly again...
What happens now? I feel so out of touch. Talk to me.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
21/02/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
It is really good to hear from you again, I was worried when I received the accident news from your partner as she informed me. How are you feeling now? I hope you are better now?.
Concerning your business, you have sent me almost every requirement, accept your Drivers license and the required fees for administrative payments.
I shall commence with your work as soon as I receive the above remaining requirements.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
21/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynold,
I am really sorry for this late response to your mail.
I was out of the city for some days now and only came back this afternoon to see your mail. You do not know the amount of happiness inside me when I read your mail, God has really done good for us, by saving your life. He will surely complet the miracle by giving you an urgent cure for the legs.
You are well my friend.
A lot have happened during your abscent, especially from Inaam. She tried to find out the nature of our transaction, but I refused to disclose that to her, but I did that with diplomacy. I told her that it
will be more better you explain the transaction to her, because she will understand it more better. How are you feeling now? have seen the physiotherapy? please, update me on your recovery. Coming to our transaction, I think you have to contact the attorney and narate to him what happend to you and also request from him to inform you stage of your transaction.
I will be waiting for your response. Wishing you a quick recovery.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
It's a pleasure to hear from you - shame I can't say the same for Mr Zwani; one perfunctory paragraph of well-wishing and then it's back to business for him!
He wants a copy of my driver's license - but we have a problem there. The cops seized that from the office - Kaylee was a bit pissed off about that. According to what legal advice I've been able to get, they shouldn't have done that without due cause. Personally I think it's because of the clamor some local no-loads are making. There's been hate-mail and prank calls, and some idiot tried to break into the hangar last night. Jayne chased him off.
I'm having physio every day. Fortunately I was well insured. It's still going to be a long road though. And I don't want God to mend my leg; if He could only give Phil back his sight... The worst part of the recovery is that I get tired so gorram easily. It's a lasting effect of severe shock, though I will get over it - in time.
It'll be good to bring Inara - Inara, I might stress, not "Inaam" - into the loop. I hated not telling her. I think she really resented being shut out.
I'll contact Mr Zwani again. Best
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
Thank you for your concern, but it will be a long time before I am "better". Compound fractures don't heal that quickly. I have months of treatment ahead.
That aside... I no longer have my driver's license; it was seized by the local cops. I'm trying to have it returned but gorram local politics are getting in the way.
More as it comes to hand
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
23/02/06
Dear Mr. Malcolm Reynolds,
I am just reading your last email to me and I am not aware that the accident got that far of fracture. I understand the pains you must be going through now, because I have once had a fracture. You will get well soon.
Coming to your transaction, if your license is not available at the moment, I will try and make use of the previous one you sent which did not come clearly. You have to send me the required fees as I can commence with the work. Inform me as soon as you have transferred the money and send me the transfer information as well.
I wait to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
There'll be a delay in sending the money as right now, with medical bills and having to hire a lawyer over this police harassment, things are rather tight.
The funds allotted to buying equipment for SAC are locked in fixed-deposit accounts that can't be accessed before June this year at the earliest.
The insurance check will take a while coming, but that may be the best sure bet. I'm sorry to have to drop this on you, but it's been a bad time.
You once had a fracture and you know I'll get well soon? Was it a compound fracture with the snapped bones piercing the skin? I'll have pins in my legs that'll have airport metal detectors buzzing for the rest of my life.
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
25/02/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
How are you today? I hope that you are fine? Just wanted to find out your situation and also know if you have communication from the attorney. My family are always praying for your quick recovery. Have a nice day.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
I'm due for more physio today - hell, it's physio every day for a month - and it's a bitch being unable to fly. It's what I do, and I can't. I hate that.
I had a message from Mr Zwani on Thursday, asking for remittance of the fees. I had to tell him that right now, medical and legal costs are looming really large, and that his fee might have to wait until insurance payments come through - whenever that happens. The assessors are due to visit next week, and there'll be the company's doctor to come by, and then there are the usual delays after that!
I'm very grateful for your family's support. You should tell me about them.
Best Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
Are you OK? I've heard nothing from you for nearly a week.
Mr Zwani has been out of touch for over a week now. What's happening?
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr Kahn,
What the hell have I done do deserve being shunned by you? I'm at a loss.
I'm doubly concerned because I received a message from Abd al-Hazred, a representative of the Mashreq Bank wanting to know exactly what business I'd done with you.
What's happening, Mr Kahn?
Malcolm Reynolds Abd al-Hazred is a rendering of "Abdul Al-Azred", a famous name from the Cthulhu mythos novels of H. P. Lovecraft.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
12/03/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for your emails and I am really sorry for the delay in responding back to your emails. I ahve been very sick and have not been able to do anything until today. Please, concerning the person that contacted you from Mashreq Bank, you don't have to respond back to him. I can't say the reason why he is contacting you with such question and I even wonder how he managed to get hold of your email address. If you have communicated with him, please you have to stop further communication with immediate effect.
How is your legs now? I hope that you are doing fine? Inform me as soon as you have settled with the attorney for him to commence with the work. I wait for your response.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
What happened to you? I'm really sorry about my last message then - are you OK now or just recuperating?
I'm a bit confused about Mr al-Hazred - are you saying that he is with the bank? If so, does he have the authority to question me about this business? If he's not with the bank, then who the hell is he?
I haven't heard from Barrister Zwani since I told him that payment would have to be delayed until the insurance company paid up (not yet, the assholes) - I get the impression that money is all that matters to him.
Let me know how you're getting on, OK?
Take care,
Malcolm Reynolds
Mr. Ali Raza Khan
12/03/06
Dear Mr. Reynolds,
Thanks for your response. I am getting better now and I hope to be fine in few days. I can't really say what happened, maybe he is trying to find out if I am having communication with you, since I was the account officer to that account. Just do not have any communication with him or any other person as far as this transaction is concerned. All you have to do now is to contact the attorney and find out if he is still interested to work for you..
I will be waiting for your response.
Regards,
Khan.
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Kahn,
That's good to hear. As for me, the physio continues, and the prognosis is good. I'll have to go for a full medical before I'm cleared to fly again, though it should be a formality.
So Mr al-Hazred is with Mashreq... I haven't replied since you instructed me not to (not that I said much - Papa and Mama Reynolds didn't raise nobody's fool), but he's been persisting in wanting to know about our business.
I'll contact Mr Zwani again, but I'll give you odds he'll want payment now - which I can't do yet.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Reynolds
Dear Mr Zwani,
You have not communicated for over a month. Please let me know if anything has changed with regard to our business. Also - should you hear from a Mr Ab al-Hazred, please let me know at once.
Regards,
Malcolm Reynolds
Onias Zwani
13/03/06
Attn: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds.
Dear Sir,
I am sorry for not have communicated with you all these while, I was out of my city handling a case. How are you feeling now? I hope you are getting better.
Concerning your work, you know that I cannot work without the required fees for expenses, so as soon as you make the fees available i shall commence with your work. Everything is still as we left it. This is the present situation of issue. I have not been to the bank since then, because I cannot go there without the required items.
Communicate me as soon as you are ready with the fees. Wishing you quick recovery. Yours faithfully,
Onias Zwani.
I decided to end it here - but via Inara. She deserves more lines.
Inawa Tam
To Kahn and Zawni, take note
Malcolm is absent for extended treatment, so I have decided to rescue him from your scheme as you are both frauds and liars and sadly he believes in you.
Do not reply or make contact again.
Inawa Tam
I have learned more about you both from Mr al-Hazred.
Mr al-Hazred explained in detail that you are both confidence men trying to defraud Malcolm. I am therefore telling you that I will not allow him to send you any money. When he returns I will show him all the details that Mr al-Hazred sent. Then Malcolm will understand.
I hope that wherever you are, The Father, The Son and The Holy Virgin curse you both with endless pain and loss, both in this world and the next.
Malcolm is a good and decent man, not deserving of your wickedness.
[Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!]