Executives jailed in Sama Dubai graft case
Presiding judge announces irrevocable ruling of various prison terms
Dubai: Dubai's highest court on Monday handed an irrevocable ruling, of different jail terms, against four Sama Dubai executives and Damac's former property development director.
The Dubai Cassation Court, being the highest and last adjudication stage in Dubai Courts, yesterday brought the curtain down on one of the high-profile corruption and fraud cases involving three Emiratis, a Syrian [Damac's executive] and a fifth convict, who does not hold personal identification documents.
Pronouncing judgment, Presiding Judge Mohammad Nabil Riyad confirmed that A.M., the 43-year-old Emirati former CEO, of Lagoons, a Sama Dubai company, will spend three years in jail for abusing his duty as a public servant and accepting a bribe. He was also fined Dh2.89 million and ordered to repay the same amount to Lagoons.
The 32-year-old Syrian convict, A.H., M.M., Lagoon's Emirati former sales manager, and M.S., Lagoon's ex-sales executive, [who doesn't carry documents] face one year imprisonment for exchanging a bribe worth Dh650,000.
Joint fine
The Cassation Court also confirmed that M.M., his 23-year-old compatriot N.Q. and M.S. will spend three years in jail for taking Dh4.8 million in bribe against unlawfully selling/reselling lands belonging to Sama Dubai. They were jointly fined Dh4.8 million and ordered to repay the amount to Lagoons.
A.H.'s lawyer, Saeed Al Ghailani, defended before the Cassation Court: "If any person tips a porter or a bartender at any government-owned hotel, then would that person be charged with bribing a public sector employee? A.H.'s job did not require him to sell or buy lands. He implemented his boss's instructions and used to transfer buyers' data to Sama Dubai only."
Lawyers of the other convicts also argued before the judge.
The convicts have to surrender to Dubai Public Prosecution's Criminal Rulings' Execution Section for the verdict to be carried out.
The court also acquitted A.H. of aiding and abetting M.A. and M.S. to collect a bribe worth Dh2.3 million over a three-land deal.
