Worker denies taking bribe to help customer

ABU DHABI — An employee of a metal manufacturing firm went on trial, accused of taking a bribe from a customer to forge documents about the real weight of the iron materials sold to him, so that he could pay lesser amount for the products.

The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance heard that the Asian man, who was in charge of weighing the sold items and issuing the quantity papers, which could then be taken to the cashier for payment, forged documents about the real weight of the iron products after allegedly receiving a bribe from the customer.

Prosecutors said the Asian customer, who is also accused of offering a bribe, had agreed with the worker to conduct the forgery.

In addition to the bribe, the man who was buying the items on behalf of his company had allegedly promised a share the money he would make by excluding the real weight of materials from the invoices, according to court documents. Prosecutors charged the employee with forgery and accepting a bribe. The customer was charged with offering a bribe.

The Asian employee denied the charges against him. He said the company had filed malicious allegations against him because it owed him Dh100,000 in unpaid wages and commissions. He said the complaint was filed after he asked the management to pay all his entitlements. The trial was adjourned until August 27.