DUBAI // A customer service officer at Dubai World's Nakheel was charged this morning with embezzling more than Dh77,000 from customer insurance fees.
The 31-year-old Filipina defendant, KA, denied the charges when she appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance this morning, saying she followed the company's regular procedures and deposited the money into an account.
According to court records, KA had been embezzling the fees since 2008. NM, the human resources manager at Nakheel, said the company became suspicious of KA in late 2009 and audited the receipts at the accounting department.
Prosecutors said Dh77,464 was discovered missing.
When she was confronted with the findings, NM said, KA admitted to spending the money and took full responsibility. She also signed an writ to return the embezzled amounts.
She added that KA was given a grace period to return the money but failed to do so and asked that the amounts be deducted from her end of service bonus instead. Because her bonus would not cover the amount, the company informed the police, records show.
The court will reconvene on April 5 to hear witness testimony.
salamir@thenational.ae
