Prosecutors lose appeal for harsher sentence against policeman who stole cash from lost and found box

DUBAI // Prosecutors have lost their appeal for a harsher sentence against a police officer who stole cash from a lost-and-found box.

The Emirati, 23, took Dh43,170 from the box, which had been delivered to him by officers at Al Barsha police station.

He was given a suspended sentence of a year in prison in April 2015.

The officer, who worked at Al Qusais police station, was responsible for receiving lost items from stations across the emirate and returning items to their owners.

Officers from Al Barsha said they had delivered boxes to the defendant just before 9.30am one day, after which one of his colleagues saw him open a box, take out a plastic bag and put it in his pocket. Four hours later, a bag containing money was reported missing.

After questioning, he admitted taking the cash and spending almost Dh15,000 on parts for his vehicle.

At Dubai Criminal Court last year, he was convicted of embezzlement, sentenced to a year in jail and fined Dh43,000. But the court ordered the sentence to be suspended.