Dubai: A woman manager, who worked at DP World, and four managerial executives have been accused of committing financial irregularities amounting to Dh4.85 million over two dubious deals.
The Emirati manager allegedly abused her authority [as a department manager at DP World] and requested Dh500,000 in bribe for herself and her Syrian woman colleague from a construction company’s Egyptian manager to help his company win a tender to construct a villa for an African president at Jumeirah Hills.
The Emirati was also said to have requested Dh4.35 million in bribe, according to records, for herself and her Syrian colleague from another construction company’s Jordanian chief executive to help his company win a tender to construct a terminal at a seaport in Dubai.
The manager was helped by her colleague, the Jordanian executive and a Lebanese manager in committing the financial irregularities.
Moreover, the Jordanian [in his capacity as a construction company’s chief executive] was believed to have offered Dh4.35 million in bribe to the Emirati manager, through her Syrian colleague, in order to win the tender of constructing the seaport terminal.
The other construction company’s Egyptian manager also offered Dh500,000 in bribe to the Emirati, through her colleague, to win the tender of constructing the African president’s villa.
Prosecutors also charged the Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian suspects of forging an agreement, signed between the Jordanian’s company and a technical services company.
According to the agreement, the technical services company would provide consultations and strategic support to the construction company to win the tender to construct the seaport terminal against a six per cent commission of Dh72.5 million [the total cost of the project].
Prosecutors further charged the Emirati, Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian suspects of committing a money laundering crime worth Dh2.17 million.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the above-mentioned financial irregularities happened between January 2012 and March 2014.
The Emirati and Lebanese suspects were the only ones who appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Monday and entered a not guilty plea.
When presiding judge Urfan Omar read out the charges against the Emirati woman manager, she pleaded not guilty and repeatedly told the court that she did not commit any wrongdoing.
The Lebanese also dismissed the accusations.
Presiding judge Omar adjourned the case until the three remaining suspects are legally notified about the upcoming hearing on August 22.
The four defence lawyers who were present in courtroom three asked the court to adjourn the case until they could review the case file and papers.
