Six stand trial on charges of forgery and fraud in RAK

ras al khaimah — Six people, including employees of a government factory and a private company, stood trial at the Ras Al Khaimah Criminal Court, charged with forgery and fraud.

As per court records, the suspects allegedly forged a sale contract of a government factory and collected an illegal commission of $6.2 million (about Dh22.7m) against the total contract valued at $172 million (about Dh631.7m).

At the court presided by chief judge Sameh Shaker, a government officer, who appeared as a prosecution witness, said he discovered the forgery and fraud while reviewing the sale contract in one of the emails he received in his official mailbox.

“The factory sale contract terms seemed to be abnormal and did not meet the set conditions adopted by regular companies and institutions.”

He added that he discovered a 3.5 per cent rise in the commission collected against the sale contract in violation of law. “The commission was unreasonably high in view of the low purchase rates of companies worldwide owing to the global financial crunch.”

The committee, in which he was a member, also found out a counterfeited contract letter between the two companies which agreed to share the $6.2-million commission.

“As per the letter, the government-owned factory would get $1.51 million while the private company would get $4.51 million.” The letter proved to have been signed on a date different from the date when the contract was signed.

The second suspect denied the charges, and told the court that he, in his capacity as a legal adviser of the government entity, was authorised to sign the purchase and sale contracts of investment companies in the emirate.

“My job was only to review the agreements stipulated by my boss — the first suspect, and I have nothing to do with all the details or figures included.”

The suspect also denied any forgery of the sale contract. “The contract letter mentioned by the prosecution witness was only a preliminary agreement that was neither submitted nor officially approved during the sale process.”

He said that the commission collected by the government entity was normal and within acceptable ranges.

“The commission companies used to collect during the global financial crisis was high,” he pointed out. “The report of the courtassigned auditor that has been included in the lawsuit file denied any forgery in the sale contract.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com