DUBAI // An international banking services manager embezzled Dh24.5 million from the accounts of a client, a court has heard.
S A, 30, from Lebanon, and her co-defendants – American A A, 40, and Pakistani H K, 31, who is still at large – are charged with stealing the amount from three bank accounts owned by Iranian property investor H R.
Prosecutors said that the thefts occurred between October 2010 and March last year, after S A gave her accomplices details of the three accounts, including their history, balances and the account owner’s signature.
The two are accused of using the details to fill out transfer orders, forge the owner’s signature then submit the orders to the bank.
They had the money transferred to another bank account from which they withdrew it, prosecutors say. They were helped in forging the transfer papers by an unidentified man.
S A faces 10 charges, including theft, forgery of documents and use of forged documents. The other pair are charged with theft, forgery and aiding and abetting.
Eight more defendants are charged with possessing some of the stolen money.
The victim, 54, said that in March last year he requested a bank statement for his end of year audit.
“S A met with the administrative manager of my companies and handed her the statement,” he said.
“But the next day we were informed that we need a more detailed statement, so the manager returned to the bank and met with another employee.
“This employee gave her the requested statement and when we checked it, it was very different from the one given to us by S A and was missing a lot of money.”
The investor said he met S A’s manager to ask about the discrepancy.
It was then that the thefts were discovered and reported to police.
The woman was not in Dubai Criminal Court yesterday, but five of her co-defendants were and all denied the charges against them.
The next hearing has been scheduled for September 19.
salamir@thenational.ae
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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