Computer programmer steals data, embezzles Dh2.75m

Dubai - A Pakistani manager of the company, where the accused worked, said that they discovered the discrepancy in July.

By Marie Nammour

Published: Tue 8 Dec 2015, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Thu 10 Dec 2015, 9:22 AM

A computer programmer has been charged with embezzling £500,000 (Dh2.75million) by forging electronic data of his company.
The 43-year-old Greek abused his privilege of access into the electronic system and managed to transfer money from the company's bank accounts into bogus accounts and from there to his own bank accounts. He has been charged in the Court of First Instance with theft and forgery.
A Pakistani manager of the company, where the accused worked, said that they discovered the discrepancy in July and that the embezzled amounts belonged to a private company based in the UK.
He added that their company was specialised in the information technology and takes up contracts to develop electronic software for different enterprises and companies. He said that his company was in a contractual relation with the UK-based company to develop a special software for money transfer services.
"The defendant was assigned to prepare that software. He was given access to the said software, even after it was handed over to the client, for technical assistance in case of any problems.
"In July, the client complained that amounts of money had been transferred from their accounts into other accounts which they knew nothing about."
The defendant claimed to his workplace that there must be something wrong in the software in order to justify the transfer of the large amounts of money.
The company became certain about the embezzlements when they sought the help of another computer programmer and also an international IT expert who found that the transactions were deliberate.
The hearing has been adjourned to December 22.
mary@khaleejtimes.com