Locked to Owner Police Auction lost and found devices

Hello

I've purchased a lot of 8 apple devices on an auction for the local police department in Dubai. Auction hosted on Emirates Auction house.

4 of those apple devices are iPhones that are locked to owner.

I've already wiped the devices off to remove previous owner's data.

Requested Apple to remove the activation lock, they keep asking me for more documents to prove ownership whilst I've submitted all the legal auction paperwork, invoice and even a bank statement that shows my transaction to the auction house.

This isn't my first time doing this, I've gotten an iPad via the same auction house (Emirates Auction-Dubai Police Lost and found items) and successfully gotten the device unlocked by Apple in 2022.

Same procedure, same documents submitted, but this time they're requesting proof of ownership. I don't understand how an invoice from a police department auction is not considered proof of ownership? Or am I missing something here?

I've tried submitting my requests in two ways: Over the phone with an Apple support agent and online via the Activation lock support page. Both keep returning the same automated email "kindly submit a proof of ownership..."

The Apple support agents via the phone keep telling me that if I have any other documents to submit, which is why this time my request included an Invoice from the auction, a Tax invoice, screenshots of the auction page and the items sold, screenshot of the devices showing ~7GB in use proving they've been wiped. I even offered to take the devices to a local Apple store. Agents said Apple stores in the United Arab Emirates only deal with hardware related issues.

I'm very confused and disappointed to be honest, I simply do not understand what I'm doing wrong here.

Has anyone experienced the same issue? If yes how did you resolve it?

I mean if they keep rejecting my requests those devices will end up as E-waste.. And it kinda goes against Apple's sustainability and Green vision, those devices are completely worth saving since they all work and require no repairs. A 15 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 12 Pro and an 11 in the bin?

Also why did it work for my iPad in 2022 and not for those devices just 2 years later? Same auction same papers same user.

Just an FYI, Dubai has a law (Law No. (5) of 2015 Concerning Disposition of Lost and Abandoned Property in the Emirate of Dubai and it says there that lost items are kept for at least a year and if no one is claiming them Dubai Police disposes the items via an Auction. And if the original owner claims their item after 1 year and the item has already been sold, the original owner can still claim their money up to 15 years from the time of the auction.