Dubai employee steals over Dh4.2M from security deposits

dubai — An administrative officer at an authority that supplies electricity and other utility services in Dubai and his seven accomplices embezzled more than Dh4.2 million from the security amounts deposited with the authority, a court has heard.

The 41-year-old Nepali ex-employee, who is currently at large, allegedly abused his post — which involved receiving and responding to applications from customers to recover their deposits — to embezzle the money.

According to public prosecution records, in one instance, the fugitive ex-employee leaked the data and account numbers for 1,976 transactions pertaining to individuals and institutions to a Nepali businessman, 34. In addition to revealing to his accomplice the amounts of money deposited by the customers, the employee also allegedly provided him with copies of the documents of those transactions. He also gave him copies of other documents like passports and IDs, the court heard.

In another instance, the former employee and a 34-year-old Nepali guard embezzled more than Dh2.1 million by misusing data and account numbers of customers in 2,477 transactions.

The discrepancies lasted from May 2014 to March 2018 and a case was registered at Al Rafaa police station. Six other men — four Nepalis and two Indians aged between 32 and 38 — are standing trial in the same case at the Court of First Instance for aiding and abetting the crime.

The main defendant is facing charges of embezzlement, breach of trust, abuse of power, forgery and use of forged documents, and gaining unlawful access to an esystem.

A verdict will be pronounced on November 5.