DUBAI // Two Ministry of Heath employees allegedly embezzled more than Dh200,000 by cancelling records of vaccinations from a clinic’s database and pocketing the fees, a court was told.
Prosecutors said Emiratis A B, 28, and F A, 26, who were employed to collect fees from residents who had shots before travelling, tampered with electronic documents between January 1, 2012 and June 10, 2013.
The Dubai Criminal Court heard that A B embezzled Dh174,800 and FA Dh38,720.
A B told prosecutors that he cancelled a receipt by mistake after a resident had his vaccinations and took the Dh200 fee.
After a few months, A B realised he could continue to cancel receipts and keep the money. After his co-worker F A discovered what he was doing, the pair agreed to split the money and continue with the scam.
“I taught F A how to use the system to cancel the fees,” said A B.
Auditor M A, 57, from Yemen, told prosecutors 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,” M A said, adding that he identified A B and F A’s accounts as those responsible for the cancellations.
At Dubai Criminal Court on Sunday, A B entered a guilty plea to a charge of forgery, using forged documents and theft. However, he told the judge the amount taken was less than what was stated in records.
F A denied the charges. The next hearing is scheduled for May 19.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
