Money exchange employee in Dubai absconds after embezzling Dh642,000

An employee at a money exchange office in Dubai has been charged with theft after he allegedly embezzled Dh642,000 from his workplace.

The 34-year-old Asian teller is believed to have put an amount of Dh641,791 in a bag which he kept in the safe. He then took it out and kept it with his personal belongings until he finished his shift at the time the branch closed.

Being a fugitive, he is standing trial in absentia at the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Two other Asians are accused of abetting and helping him to possess the stolen cash. One of them is also at large.

The theft was reported on January 24 at Jebel Ali police station.

An Indian manager said that the main accused stole Dh624,000 while on the job in the branch in a shopping centre in Jebel Ali. "He embezzled the money on January 24 and absconded the next day. I was off-duty on that day and learned he took his passport from the safe."

When the manager went to the branch, he found out the funds kept in the desk drawer, of which the defendant was in charge, were gone.

The teller was captured on the surveillance cameras taking the money from the drawer at 9.30pm, putting it on the counter for about one hour, and then keeping it with the files.

"He took the money out at the end of his shift which is around midnight. He had no prior conflict or dispute with the office nor did he file any lawsuit against his workplace. He did not return any of the amount he embezzled," the manager told the investigating prosecutor.

During investigation, it was known that the teller fled the UAE on January 25. One of his accomplices also left the country on January 26.

An amount of Dh540,250 has been recovered till now.

The court will issue a ruling on July 29.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai

Marie Nammour

mary@khaleejtimes.com