DUBAI // A partner and executive manager of a Dubai robotics company yesterday denied that he embezzled Dh20 million from his company.
R?S, 56, an American, appeared at the Dubai Court of Misdemeanours, charged with forging an invoice for Dh16m. The invoice was issued to a contracting company for which the Dubai company, Mag Robotic Systems, was building a smart parking project. R S, a partner in Mag Robotic Systems, is also accused of changing the amount to Dh20m, as well as rerouting the payment to a company he owns in the United States.
Mag Robotic Systems’ general director, H?A, 32, said that in 2009, an agreement had been signed with Al Jabir Contracting Company. He said Al Jabir paid Dh2.3m in advance, or 10 per cent of the entire project’s value.
He said he later prepared a final bill, for Dh16m, and sent it to Al Jabir, but after a year, still no payment had arrived.
H?A said he called Al Jabir to ask about the money, and was told Dh20m had been paid to R?S.
R?S is accused of increasing the amount on the bill and changing the payment address to that of his US company.
R?S said the amount was a legitimate payment for necessary equipment for the project.
A witness from Mag Robotic said that R?S was not authorised to sign an invoice without a second signature.
He told prosecutors that R?S previously told him that his US company was registered under a different name, which was R S’ name according to his German passport.
The next hearing is on February 1.
salamir@thenational.ae