Four men accused of embezzling close to half a billion dirham

Defendants alleged to have taken the money from their Emirati employer

Four men have been accused of embezzling close to half a billion dirham from the office of an Emirati VIP.

Court records showed the alleged scam first came to light in March last year and was reported to Bur Dubai police station.

Prosecutors said those involved in the fraud included a 35-year-old Emirati general manager who remains at large.

Police also charged a Lebanese administrative manager, 45, an Egyptian engineer, 59, and a Jordanian marketing manager, 45.

Dubai Court of Misdemeanours heard how the Emirati defendant worked in the VIP’s office.

He was charged with embezzling more than Dh315m while his Lebanese accomplice was charged with stealing Dh5.4m.

Prosecutors also charged the Egyptian with taking Dh32.5m and the Jordanian with stealing Dh700,000.

Much of the money is believed to have been spent on items including expensive cars with VIP registration plates.

During the hearing, prosecutors accused the Emirati defendant of withdrawing nearly Dh80m from two bank accounts belonging to the VIP.

They said the man – who already earned a monthly salary of Dh50,000 – also forged documents to award himself an additional Dh79,000 pay cheque drawn from a company owned by his employer.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese defendant is alleged to have forged the VIP’s signature on a Dh500,000 cheque he issued to himself. The Jordanian marketing manager forged a Dh50,000 cheque, the court heard.

All four men are charged with embezzlement, forgery and misappropriation of funds.