Banker helps man siphon off Dh4.3m for Dh10k bribe

dubai — A bank employee, who allegedly helped an Indian man embezzle over Dh4.3 million from two customers’ accounts for a Dh10,000 bribe, was charged at a Dubai court on Sunday.

Prosecutors accused the 30-year-old Pakistani banker of abusing his post and privileges to gain access to the files of the victims and then leak their details to an Indian man, 30, through an employee, a 30-year-old Pakistani, at the same bank branch. Because of his help, Dh3.4 million was withdrawn from the first account.

The banker has been accused at the Court of First Instance of collecting a bribe, breach of trust and criminal complicity in forgery, while the two others are charged with offering a bribe, embezzlement, forgery and use of forged documents.

The case dates back to March 22, 2017 and a complaint was filed at Al Rafaa police station.

A Jordanian employee at the legal affairs section of the bank said they received complaints from two customers about withdrawal of large amounts of money from their accounts while they were out of the UAE.

The bank administration then conducted an internal probe which concluded that the main accused abused his post and leaked confidential information about the victims’ accounts to another bank employee at the same branch. The victims’ signatures were faked on transferal forms and large amounts of cash went to accounts of other beneficiaries at other banks. The ill-gotten money was then transferred outside the UAE. The witness told the prosecutor that the two bank employees then confessed they collected money for unlawful favours.

The first victim, who is a 76-year-old Indian investor, said his mobile line which is linked to the banking services had been disconnected on December 24, 2017 and a replacement SIM card was issued without his knowledge. During public prosecution investigation, he produced his passport which showed that he had been out of the UAE from October 25, 2017 to January 3, 2018. He said that a total amount of Dh3.4 million was embezzled from his two accounts while he was away.

The other victim is a 66-yearold Australian investor. He recounted how he lost his money. He left the UAE from October 24, 2017 to November 27, 2017 and came back to find an amount of Dh985,000 missing from his account. The trial will continue on April 2.