DUBAI // Two Ministry of Heath employees who embezzled more than Dh200,000 by cancelling vaccination records from a clinic’s database and pocketing fees from residents have had their sentences reduced.
One of the two Emiratis, aged 28, was sentenced to five years in jail by Dubai Criminal Court, while the other, 26, was sentenced to three years. The court ordered that they be sacked from their jobs after both were convicted of forgery, use of forged documents and embezzlement.
They appealed the sentence and had the jail terms reduced to one year in prison each, though Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the order that they be sacked.
The duo were employed to collect fees from residents who had vaccinations before travelling. One embezzled Dh174,800 and the other Dh38,720. They also tampered with electronic documents between January 1, 2012 and June 10, 2013.
The 28-year-old cancelled a receipt by mistake after a resident had his vaccinations and took the Dh200 fee.
After a few months, he realised he could continue to cancel receipts and keep the money. After his co-worker discovered what he was doing, the pair agreed to split the money and continue with the scam.
“I taught him how to use the system to cancel the fees,” said the 28-year-old, who confessed in both courts to all charges but he said the amount taken was less than what was stated by prosecutors. His accomplice denied all charges in both courts.
An auditor from Yemen said he received an order from his boss to check for irregularities at the clinic.
“My boss told me he suspected staff in the clinic had been cancelling payment receipts and pocketing the money,” said the 57-year-old, adding that he identified the two inspectors as those responsible.
salamir@thenational.ae
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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
