One hundred and ten people have filed a complaint with Sharjah Police against One Rent Car after the firm is thought to have gone under, it has been reported.

According to the National, citing renters and court documents, the firm which rented cars for just one dirham a day, is inoperable, in debt and its owner has fled the country.

The company, founded by the Iranian-French businessman Hakim Gouasmia, was bought into by hundreds of people who paid AED3,000 ($815) refundable deposit to rent one of the cars.

It is not known how many of these people have not had their money paid back.

Police have referred the complaints to the civil courts, renters said.

The paper reported to have seen One Rent Car bank statements, which showed the company was in deficit AED43,104.18. The report said a cheque for AED65,000 in the name of National Bank of Abu Dhabi bounced on December 6.

Gouasmia’s sponsor, Mohammed Sharif Abdulaziz al Awadi, told the National he had also been duped. Gouasmia “escaped with the money”, he said, declining to comment further, telling the paper: “The whole thing is with the court. That is all I can say.”