DUBAI // A police officer has been accused of stealing more than Dh43,000 from a lost and found box, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Monday.
The court heard that on April 28 this year Emirati E A, 23, charged with embezzling Dh43,170, took the cash from a lost and found box that had been delivered to him by officers from Al Barsha police station.
Prosecutors said the defendant, who was stationed at Al Qusais police station, was responsible for receiving lost and found items from stations across the emirate. The defendant was also in charge of returning items to their owners.
In records presented at court, officers from Al Barsha station said they delivered boxes to E A at nearly 9.30am, after which one of his colleagues saw him open one, take out a plastic bag and place it in his pocket.
Four hours later, a bag containing money was reported missing.
After being questioned, E A confessed to taking the cash for personal matters including spending almost Dh15,000 on spare parts for his vehicle.
Policeman A A, 28, told the court he saw E A near the lost and found boxes but did not see if he opened one.
E A was not present in court to enter a plea.
The next hearing will be November 16.
salamir@thenational.ae
