Salesman on trial for duping telecom firm

dubai — A sales executive is on trial for allegedly availing of telecommunication services in a fraudulent manner, generating bills totalling Dh596,881.

Public prosecution records show that the Egyptian executive, 36, forged 198 application forms for SIM cards and 35 other forms for smartphones in the names of various corporations and individuals. He then forged signatures on these forms. The crime was committed between January 2015 and September 2016.

The defendant had been working for a company which was in a contractual relation with the telecom firm. He had been given a user name and a password to access the data system and enter the customers’ details. His job was to verify the original documents if the application was personal and copies of the establishment card, trade licence and other documents if it was filed in the name of a corporate.

After accepting and processing the applications, he was to stamp them with the telecom firm’s seal and then enter the data in the system and collect the fees. He was to then hand over the customer the SIM card or smartphone and later give the application forms to the archive section.

However, the defendant abused his post and entered details in the electronic system in the names of various corporates and individuals with forged signatures.

He has been charged in the Court of First Instance with embezzlement of public funds, intentionally damaging public funds, forgery and use of forged e-documents and unlawfully availing of telecom services.

“I was preparing an audit report and checking the transactions processed by the accused from January 2015 to September 2016. We found out that many applications were done and issued without the due payments,” an audit expert told the prosecutor.

mary@khaleejtimes.com