Dubai: A banker and a businessman have been accused of forging documents to embezzle Dh30.5 million from the account of the businessman’s wife.
According to records, the Emirati housewife in August 2009 visited the 37-year-old Emirati banker at a local bank’s branch in a mall in Al Rashidiya to open a bank account for her and her children.
She deposited Dh30.5 million into her account and was told that she would earn a fixed interest rate of 13.5 per cent annually.
Later, when she did not receive any email confirming that her savings bank account had been opened, she called up the bank and asked them to communicate with her personally.
Thereafter, the 37-year-old banker sent her an email notifying her that her bank account had been opened.
When the first interest was due, she again did not receive any notification, but received an email from the banker asking her to continue investing her money with the bank.
Later, the banker and another British bank employee allegedly constantly called her up and asked her to come and sign some documents, but she did not go.
Eventually, the woman contacted the banker and asked him to transfer her money to another bank account. When he delayed in doing so, she complained to the bank’s legal department.
When the issue was still not resolved, she complained to the police.
Primary police interrogations revealed that the woman’s account had zero balance because the banker and her businessman husband had been forging documents and embezzling her money.
Prosecutors accused the banker of abusing his managerial job and embezzling the housewife’s Dh30.5 million using forged money transfer documents.
The businessman was charged with aiding and abetting the banker.
According to the charge-sheet, prosecutors said the Emirati suspects and a third person, who remains at large, forged the woman’s signature on money transfer and banking facility forms.
The banker pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Tuesday.
The husband was not present in court.
The trial continues.
