Ten on trial for 'embezzling Dh1.5m from local bank'

The gang forged a credit card application in the name of an existing client and used the card to withdraw Dh1.5m

Ten people used forged documents to embezzle Dh1.5m from a local bank, Dubai Criminal Court was told on Monday.

The defendants include a Pakistani woman, seven Pakistani men and two Indian men — all aged between 23 and 41.

Prosecutors charged three members of the gang with forgery, use of forged documents and embezzlement while the remaining seven were charged with aiding and abetting.
Records show that the three main defendants forged credit card applications and submitted them to the bank which later issued the cards. The cards were used to withdraw a total of Dh1.5m.
"We received a complaint from a bank client who said that a credit card was issued under his name which he didn't apply for," said the bank's Emirati Internal Investigation department manager.
He said an internal investigation revealed that more than 70 credit card applications submitted to the bank contained altered documents.
"The man told us that he was approached by a bank's employee who offered him a loan then obtained his documents which were later forged and used to apply for a credit card," said the manager, who reported the incident to police.
The defendants were arrested and questioned. Prosecutors said they all admitted to charges during questioning, but in court on Monday, only one admitted to aiding and abetting.

The seven others denied all charges and two of the accused did not attend court.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 8.