Ex-manager caused deliberate loss of Dh2.1m to etisalat

Dubai: A sales manager at etisalat has been accused of making personal gains through misusing his authority, forging documents and selling out 360 SIM cards and 923 smartphones.

The Indian sales manager was said to be responsible for promoting smartphone data plan packages to individuals and corporates, filling out forms and selling the products to clients.

The manager used to ask clients to fill out the required forms, according to records, then collect the needed documents, obtain approvals to activate the mobile data plans and sell them out the packages [SIM card containing the data plan and the device].

An internal auditing operation in early 2015 revealed that the manager had abused his authority [formerly] to access etisalat’s e-system, forged transactions and documents and sold out smartphone data plans to corporates for personal gains.

A 45-year-old Indian employee, who worked in logistical support, was believed to have collaborated with the manager.

Records said by the time when police were notified about the manager’s illegal practices, it was discovered that he had resigned from etisalat and left the country in 2015.

Prosecutors accused the Indian manager [absconder] of abusing his former job at etisalat, forging documents and transactions, selling out 360 SIM card [post-paid bills] and 923 smart devices to nine corporates, making personal gains and deliberately inflicting financial damage of Dh2.1 million to etisalat.

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the suspect mentioned nine names of corporates and six individuals [bogus names of persons] in the applications that he uploaded in the e-system between March 2013 and June 2014.

The employee was accused of aiding and abetting the absconding manager.

The former manager is being tried in absentia before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

The 45-year-old suspect appeared before presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi and entered a not guilty plea on Sunday.

Upon confronting him with the forged papers, he denied having had any connection to them.

An internal auditor at the telecommunication service provider testified to prosecutors that based on the applications sent by the absconder, the SIM cards devices were handed over to an outsourcing company.

“Upon checking the suspected manager’s email, it was discovered that the other suspect had collaborated with the absconder as he was the one who collected the products and was supposed to hand them over to clients. By the time when we lodged a criminal complaint at the police, the manager had resigned and left the country,”

Presiding judge Al Shamsi adjourned the hearing until the 45-year-old suspect’s lawyer presents his defence on July 5.