Policewoman cleared of abuse, embezzlement raps

Dubai: An Emirati policewoman was acquitted of charges of abuse of authority and of embezzling Dh12,000 from a detainee, after her lawyer successfully contended that she didn't have any motive to steal.

The Dubai Court of First Instance on Tuesday cleared the 26-year-old police officer after prosecutors failed to corroborate evidence used against her.

Defence counsel Obaid Ali Obaid argued before Presiding Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout that the defendant, R.M., did not have any motive to embezzle because she earns a good salary and is married to a wealthy man.

No motive

"My client earns a high salary. She had no motive to embezzle the detainee's Dh12,000 and besides she is married to a wealthy husband. She lives a decent and happy life and all the allegations about her being a thief were unfounded and groundless," said Obaid in court.

The policewoman pleaded not guilty and strongly denied a female detainee's allegations that she stole Dh12,000 from her. The detainee was arrested for an economic crime.

Prosecutors said the female detainee, N.M, testified that after she was released on bail she discovered that R.M. took her money.

"The evidence which was brought against my client was insufficient. The lieutenant who questioned her claimed that she confessed to him implicitly and later retracted her confession. There is nothing known as implicit confession. The lieutenant's statement was inconsistent and unfounded. His allegations were malicious," argued Obaid.

Prosecutors charged R.M. with embezzlement of Dh12,000 and a blank cheque from N.M. "She informed me that I would be referred to a police station where the procedures were tight. She asked me to leave the money and the cheque in her possession and claimed that she would hand them to my boss. When I went out on bail and contacted my boss, he informed me that the policewoman didn't give him the money and cheque," testified N.M.

Records said the detainee had told a lieutenant at the police station about the incident. "She [R.M.] confessed to what she did verbally and she said she didn't hand the money to the boss because of her own financial need," the Emirati lieutenant testified. "She refused to sign the investigation report," the report added.