Did travel agent take flight with Dh200,000?

Abu Dhabi: A man employed as a travel consultant with a private firm has allegedly absconded with Dh200,000, a company official told Gulf News.

S.S., 24, working with Space International Travels (a division of Emke Group) absconded from his work place last Monday, according to his employers.

"The company's internal investigation revealed that Dh200,000 has been misappropriated and we reported the issue to the police immediately," said V. Nandakumar, Corporate Communications Manager of Emke Group. "The amount was due to us and handed over to S.S. in good faith by our customers," he said.

The employee had been working as a travel consultant with the company for the past one year, he noted.

An official complaint has been lodged at the Capital Police station on charges of misappropriation of funds, issuance of bogus cheques and receipts and forgery. The relevant embassy has also been alerted. "We are also in the process of seeking help from Interpol," Nandakumar said.

He added that S.S.'s father, who works in a private company in Musaffah was contacted but declined to provide any information about his son's whereabouts.