DUBAI // A 29-year-old Irishman has been found not guilty of taking a Dh116,000 bribe in return for favouring bids from a particular company.
Prosecutors told Dubai Criminal Court that AO, who worked for an engineering company, asked for and accepted Dh115,977 from a steel company.
The Irishman’s boss said AO worked as an operations manager for a year and that there were suspicions that he had taken the bribe so his company would buy steel from a certain company ahead of others that had taken part in a bidding process.
During AO’s time at the company, from June 2010 to July 2011, it was claimed that three cheques amounting to Dh115,977 were deposited in the defendant’s bank account.
“I noticed that the market price was lower than the one presented from the company which AO approved so I sat with him but he was defending this company and saying that its prices were suitable,” said the boss, fellow Irishman JO, 53.
“He resigned in July 2011 out of fear that an investigation will be carried out but the following month I met with him and recorded our meeting in which he confessed to taking the bribe.”
Despite the company owner’s accusations, the court on Tuesday morning ruled that AO was not guilty, though no reason for the verdict was given.
salamir@thenational.ae
